X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing of chemicals, compounds, or biological materials

ABSTRACT

One aspect can relate to detecting a presence of an at least one chemical, compound, or biological material contained in an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an at least one individual based at least partially on addition of an at least one chemical identifying additive to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual based at least partially on a generation of an at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon within the at least one chemical identifying additive responsive to a single input energy event in which an at least some input energy is being applied proximal to the at least one chemical, compound, or biological material contained in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related Applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Related Application(s)).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

1. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,161, entitled “X-Ray FluorescenceVisualizer, Imager, or Information Provider”, naming Edward S. Boyden,Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, MichaelA. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed Sep.28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

2. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,142, entitled “Combining X-Ray FluorescenceVisualizer, Imager, or Information Provider, naming Edward S. Boyden,Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, MichaelA. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed Sep.28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

3. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,144, entitled “Portable Aspects For X-RayFluorescence Visualizer, Imager, or Information Provider, naming EdwardS. Boyden, Glenn B. Foster, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, EdwardK. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold,Dennis J. Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A.Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, asinventors, filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is anapplication of which a currently co-pending application is entitled tothe benefit of the filing date.

4. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,156, entitled “Geometric X-Ray FluorescenceVisualizer, Imager, or Information Provider, naming Edward S. Boyden,Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, MichaelA. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed Sep.28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

5. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,169, entitled “Tool Based X-Ray FluorescenceVisualizing, Imaging, or Information Providing”, naming Edward S.Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, MichaelA. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed Sep.28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

6. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,096, entitled “Repositioning X-RayFluorescence Visualizer, Imager, or Information Provider”, naming EdwardS. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, EricC. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet,Michael A. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, CharlesWhitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors,filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date.

7. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,150, entitled “Time of Flight Aspects ForX-Ray Fluorescence Visualizer, Imager, or Information Provider”, namingEdward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J.Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, CharlesWhitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors,filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date.

8. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,172, entitled “Selective Elemental ColorProviding For X-Ray Fluorescence Visualization, Imaging, or InformationProviding,” naming Edward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y.Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, NathanP. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene,Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y.H. Wood, as inventors, filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currentlyco-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

9. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,154, entitled “Scintillator Aspects ForX-Ray Fluorescence Visualizer, Imager, or Information Provider”, namingEdward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J.Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, CharlesWhitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors,filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date.

10. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,135, entitled “Proximity-Based X-RayFluorescence Visualizer, Imager, or Information Provider, naming EdwardS. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, EricC. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet,Michael A. Smith, Clarence I. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, CharlesWhitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors,filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date.

11. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,155, entitled “Personal Transportable X-RayFluorescence Visualizing, Imaging, And/Or Information Providing, namingEdward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J.Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, CharlesWhitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors,filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date.

12. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/906,151, entitled “X-Ray FluorescenceVisualizing, Imaging, or Information Providing of Chemicals, Compounds,or Biological Materials”, naming Edward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde,Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W.Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence T.Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed Sep. 28, 2007, which iscurrently co-pending, or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit ofPrior-Filed Application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003, availableat http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm.The present Applicant Entity (hereinafter “Applicant”) has providedabove a specific reference to the application(s) from which priority isbeing claimed as recited by statute. Applicant understands that thestatute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does notrequire either a serial number or any characterization, such as“continuation” or “continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S.patent applications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicantunderstands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entryrequirements, and hence Applicant is designating the present applicationas a continuation-in-part of its parent applications as set forth above,but expressly points out that such designations are not to be construedin any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether ornot the present application contains any new matter in addition to thematter of its parent application(s).

All subject matter of the Related Applications and of any and allparent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the RelatedApplications is incorporated herein by reference to the extent suchsubject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain aspects of this disclosure can relate to, but are not limitedto, a variety of embodiment of a variety of embodiments of an X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing, andassociated mechanisms and/or techniques.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider including certain embodiments of a high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an X-ray photon undergoing a fluorescing event,such as can be performed by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c is a series diagram of an embodiment of an X-rayfluorescence atomic interaction showing a fluorescing event;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of yet another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider including a collimator;

FIG. 9 is a view of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider of FIG. 8 as taken along section lines 9-9;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider including a scanning shieldportion;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider including a collimator;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider including a scanning shieldportion;

FIG. 13 shows a diagram of one embodiment of an at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) that can be included incertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider;

FIG. 14 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) that can be included in certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider in which anotherelectromagnetic radiation is applied to the at least one applied highenergy photon;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider including a collimator orscanning shield portion;

FIGS. 17 a and 17 b are a diagram illustrating motion of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider such as may occur during certain types of volumetric X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing;

FIG. 18 shows a flow chart of one embodiment of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing, such as may occurusing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider as described with respect to FIGS. 17 a and 17b;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information from at leasta surface of an individual;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information within avolume from a first prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth to asecond prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth;

FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider;

FIG. 22 shows yet another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 23 shows a diagram of an at least the portion of an individual(e.g., human) being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or imageprovided by one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider;

FIG. 24 shows a block diagram of a X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing process using the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider such as described withrespect to FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a diagram of the at least the portion of the individual beingX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or image provided by anotherembodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider;

FIG. 26 shows a block diagram of another X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing process using the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider such asdescribed with respect to FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a diagram of an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider as used by a dentist;

FIG. 28 is a diagram of an internal embodiment (e.g., endoscope-based)of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 29 is a partial cross-section of certain skin and subsurface layersof an individual (e.g., human) that can be X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have information provided;

FIG. 30 is a partial cross-section of certain skin and subsurface layersof the individual including a skin aberration (e.g., a melanoma);

FIG. 31 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider including an embodiment of an at leastone display portion configured as a personal display or informationprovider portion;

FIG. 32 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider including an embodiment of the at leastone display portion configured as a group display or informationprovider portion;

FIG. 33 shows a flexible embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider that can be positioned by the user;

FIG. 35 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider;

FIG. 36 shows yet another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 37 shows one animal-based embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 38 shows another animal-based embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 39 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) is situated at least partiallyexternally to the at least the portion of the individual while the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly is situated at leastpartially externally to the at least the portion of the individual;

FIG. 40 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) is situated at least partiallyinternally to the at least the portion of the individual while the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly is situated at leastpartially externally to the at least the portion of the individual;

FIG. 41 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) is situated at least partiallyexternally to the at least the portion of the individual while the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly is situated at leastpartially internally to the at least the portion of the individual;

FIG. 42 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) is situated at least partiallyinternally to the at least the portion of the individual while the X-rayfluorescence receiving assembly is situated at least partiallyinternally to the at least the portion of the individual;

FIG. 43 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence receivingassembly that is configured to output information;

FIG. 44 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence receivingassembly that is associated with a tool;

FIG. 45 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider that is being utilized for imagecombination;

FIG. 46 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider that is configured toprovide a time of flight measurement;

FIG. 47 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider including an embodiment of a control oradjustment mechanism;

FIG. 48 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider including another embodiment of thecontrol or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 49 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider including yet another embodiment of thecontrol or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 50 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider including another embodiment of thecontrol or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 51 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, of information providing technique as combinedwith a tool operation, as can be performed by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider of FIGS.1 and 2, and other locations through this disclosure; and

FIG. 52 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, of information providing technique as combinedwith a tool operation, as can be performed by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider of FIGS.1 and 2, and other locations through this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least certain portions of the text of this disclosure (includingclaims, detailed description, and/or drawings as set forth herein) cansupport various different claim groupings and/or various differentapplications. Although, for sake of convenience and understanding, thedetailed description can include section headings that generally trackvarious different concepts associated with claims or general conceptscontained therein, and the detailed description is not intended to limitthe scope of the invention as set forth by each particular claim. It isto be understood that support for the various applications or portionsthereof thereby, can appear throughout the text and/or drawings at oneor more locations, irrespective of the section headings.

1. Certain Embodiments of an X-Ray Fluorescence Visualizers Imager, orInformation Provider

This disclosure pertains to a number of applications, a variety ofembodiments, as well as associated techniques, pertaining to differentembodiments of an X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, certain embodiments are as described in block form withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2 which are as described in this disclosure, canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationpertaining to a variety of matter of at least a portion of anindividual. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information based upon atleast some X-rays being fluoresced from the matter of the at least theportion of the individual by passing through to or within the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth 170, as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to12, as well as at other locations through this disclosure. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can rely at least partially on X-ray fluorescence, sinceX-rays can be configured to travel through a variety of matter of theindividual such as tissue, bones or portions thereof, blood, bloodcomponents, bodily fluids, implants or inserts, etc. Certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence range and/or the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth can be arbitrarily thin or thick, depending on suchfactors as the configuration of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, desired visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing quality, imaging speed, expense, imaging volume orarea, dimensions, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, orprovide information based at least partially on one or both of thematerial density and/or the elemental composition of the matter of theat least the portion of the individual. For example, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured to visualize, image, or provide information basedat least partially on the element composition (e.g. for each chemicalelement) included in or contained within the matter typically directlysuch as without the addition of an X-ray fluorescence enhancingadditive, a taggant, or a contrast agent, etc. Such X-ray fluorescenceenhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. can be appliedusing pills, medications, intravenously, suppositories, or by usingother known application techniques.

Within this disclosure, the element composition can include, but is notlimited to, the composition of the element(s), the chemical(s), thecompound(s), implants, and/or the biological materials, etc. included inor contained within the at least some matter of the at least the portionof the individual. As such, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to visualize, image, or provide information (or improve suchoperations) based at least partially on the chemical, compound (e.g.chemical mixture or compound), and/or biological material included in orcontained within the matter typically directly such as with the additionof the X-ray fluorescence enhancing additive, taggant, or contrastagent, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can also visualize, image, or provideinformation based at least partially on elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological material by, for example, adding X-ray fluorescenceenhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. to the portionof the individual being visualized, imaged, or information provided thatcan be reacted to or received by that particular chemical or element,and thereupon visualizing, imaging, or providing information accordingto that chemical, element, and/or biological material. As such, withinthis disclosure, the visualizing, imaging, or providing informationbased at least partially on an element can, depending on context, relateto visualizing, imaging, or providing information according to anelement, compound, or chemical, biological material, or a combinationof, either directly or at least partially based on an addition of anX-ray fluorescence enhancing additive, taggant, or contrast agent, etc.which when combined with the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual can indicate or improve the X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing of the matter.

By allowing X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding relative to particular elements, compounds, or chemicals,and/or biological material, certain individuals such as human medicalpatients can perform screening for one or more elements, compounds,chemicals, and/or biological material, or a combination thereof. SuchX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or providing information thatmay be based at least partially on the density, element, chemical, orcompound, and/or biological material included in or contained within thematter may add a richness. For example, the presence, or excessiveamount, of certain elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterial within a particular matter of the at least the portion of theindividual could be detected as a particular color, text, symbol, orother known technique such as is generally known in display or graphicaluser interface (GUI) techniques. As such, certain chemicals, compounds,elements, and/or biological material that may be indicative of certainillnesses, infections, sicknesses, injuries, poisoning, etc. can bereadily scanned, diagnosed, image to, visualized, and/or analyzed. Itmay be possible for certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to detect an elementalsignature of the matter of the at least the portion of the individual,and as such act as a type of spectrometer.

By configuring certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 to be relatively low power,relatively inexpensive to purchase or operate, or relatively portable,and/or such devices may be a particularly suitable to relatively poor orremote portions of the world. Additionally, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 mayallow more modern medical imaging or visualizing techniques to beapplied to the population of considerable portions of the world, and/orbe used for such applications than up to this time the population maynot have had suitable X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could therefore beutilized in particularly rural, remote, or poorer regions to therebyimprove the available visualizing, imaging, or information providing,and therefore the general medical care as described in this disclosure.In addition, the increased affordability of the certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100could allow a number of these devices to be used that could each besuitably configured for its particular application, such as cancertreatment or scanning, association with surgical tools, elementcomposition screening, surgical uses such as searching for gunshot orexplosive wounds, etc. Such aspects as reduced expense, limited dosageexposure to X-rays or other electromagnetic radiation, devotedapplication, potential simplicity of operation or configuration, etc. asdescribed in thyis disclosure could make the use of certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 particularly useful and desirable, in general.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to perform combined X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing of somecombination of elements or additives thereto such as X-ray fluorescenceenhancing additives, taggant, or contrast agents, etc. (that may, e.g.,enhance or provide X-ray visualizing, imaging, or information providingof elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological material, etc) suchas themselves as may be color coded. For example, certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be configured to visualize or image calcium as white, oxygen asblue, and iron as red. The resulting images including matter includingor containing some distribution iron, calcium, and iron can then becompiled such that the various mixtures create more color combinationsor color mixes such as, for example, oranges, greens, purple, etc. Suchcombined colors may be easily detectable of readable by a human or amachine image color-reading or certain other image processing device.Consider that conventional CAT scans and conventional MRI typicallyyield a “black and white” or some level of grayscale display or images.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be truly polychromatic, thereby enhancingthe richness of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing, and in result allowing for more robust evaluationof a given matter such as tissue. The various colors could represent,for example, topography of the matter, elements of concern to bescanned, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information relating to an elemental,chemical, and/or biological material make-up in the body, particularlywith the use of X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, orcontrast agents, etc. For example, a drug, pill, suppository, injection,or other applier/injector could apply the additive, taggant, etc. to beapplied to a patient, and the additive, taggant, etc. could beassociated at the molecular level with X-ray fluorescence enhancingadditives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. The particular X-rayfluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc.could be selected as to be harmless to the individual, but include anelement that is easily detected by the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. The concentration or location ofthe drugs in matter of the person (individual) could be monitored on aone-time or repetitive manner. This could lead to effective research ondrug dosing techniques, effectiveness, regimen, time for the drug todiminish, particular concentrations of drugs in matter of the particularregions of the body, and other such aspects.

Within this disclosure, the term “individual” can, depending on context,pertain to a person, animal, plant, organism, of whom at least a portionthereof is being imaged and/or examined by the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. The term “user” can,depending on context, pertain to those persons using and/or operatingcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, such as, but not limited to: doctors,physicians, dentists, veterinarians, researchers, assistants,technicians, researchers, persons performing medical forensics and/orautopsies, users, and/or other persons, assistants to, derivatives from,etc. who can view or utilize the X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged,or information provided portion of the individual using certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100.

Within this disclosure, the term “user” can also include, in addition tothe human users as described above: computers, automated systems,controllers, robotic devices, other devices etc. As such, certain userscan be used to automate X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,providing information, inspection, or analyzing of certain depth imageinformation as output by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 using such X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing techniquesas described in this disclosure. Consider, for example, that certaindepth image information can be more readily utilized or processed bycomputers based on computer-generated vision, machine based imaging,machine vision, machine-based devices, etc. to X-ray fluorescencevisualize determine, X-ray fluorescence visualize image, process, and/orprovide X-ray fluorescence information. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to alert medical surgeons, dentists, etc. when a tool(particularly one that can harm the patient such as certain cuttingtools, certain lasers, certain tissue removing devices, etc.) that isbeing used is proximate of certain elements, which may be used toindicate a sensitive area. For example, the element iron may be used todetermine or indicate the presence of blood vessels, aortas, certainorgans, etc. due to its existence in hemoglobin (a component of blood).As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that are being associated withsurgical tools might be configured or adapted to quantitativelydetermine or interpret the relative depth, distance to, or proximity ofcertain blood vessels, nerves, etc. Certain embodiments of such X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing may beparticularly effective in the vicinity of relatively homogenous matteras compared with inconsistent material.

This disclosure describes a variety of embodiments of X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing to a variety ofprescribed depths. For instance, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information down to aprescribed depth such that any elements, chemicals, or compounds thatare being particularly scanned for that are within that depth from thesurface (e.g., iron for hemoglobin, or certain elements characteristicof particular types of cancer or tissue, etc.) should be indicated.While such scans within a range of depths may lack the clarity of scanslimited to a relatively thin depth, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, suchtechniques for scanning for particular elements, as described in thisdisclosure, can be effectively performed and reliably indicated eventhrough a prescribed depth range of matter. Such surface scans through aprescribed depth can be from outside the individual, or at leastpartially internal to the individual such as via a surgical opening, anaturally occurring opening, or a minimally invasive opening such as fora scope-type device that may or may not be associated with a tool.

By comparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, or provide information can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,or provide information at within a prescribed depth range. For instance,it may be desired to determine what is in some matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual at some prescribed depth from a surface(at least partially internal or at least partially external) from a toolbeing used. Such range of prescribed depths being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or information provided can, in certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100, be controlled or altered as desired by the user, or alternatelyunder control of a controller, computer, hardware and/or softwarecomponent, etc. as described in this disclosure.

This disclosure describes certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing relative to particularelements, compounds, chemicals, and/or biological material a number oftimes. Many or all elements can be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided based particularly on elements (with or withoutX-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents,etc.) provided there is little interference with the elements beingvisualized, imaged, or have information provided with the elements ofthe background. A sizable percentage of the elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological material can be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided with X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives,taggants, or contrast agents, etc. provided there is little interferencewith the X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrastagents, etc. being visualized, imaged, or have information provided andthe elements, chemicals, compounds, biological material, X-rayfluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. ofthe background.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information of or through matter of the atleast the portion of the individual in a manner as to view certainmedically relevant, surgically relevant, or other image-interestinglocations. Certain embodiments of the medically relevant information mayinclude, but are not limited to, the location of at least a portion ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100(or an associated device such as a tool). For example, the proximity ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100to a tool such as a blood vessel, nerve, bone, etc. can be indicated.

Such proximity can be used to locate a desired location as well, forexample assuming that the blood vessel, nerve, bone, etc. is beingsearched for as being medically relevant or interesting. Certainembodiments of the medically relevant information may include, but arenot limited to, a matter perfusion such as tissue perfusion. Forexample, certain actions by a surgeon, doctor, individual, etc. canalter blood flow to a critical region. For example applying a clip to ananeurysm may change flow dynamics which can compromise flow to a distalportion of tissue.

Certain embodiments of the medically relevant information may include,but are not limited to, a modification of a tissue function. Forexample, could a medical or surgical procedure or operation be puttingtoo much pressure, kinking, or otherwise distort matter such as tissue.Such tissue function aspects could lead to a physical, chemical, orfunctional alteration of the tissue or organ in question. An examplewould be if a doctor was using a retractor on a portion of the heart,and the pressure was causing a decrement in the ejection fraction or theelectrical conductance.

Certain embodiments of the medically relevant information may include,but are not limited to, a modification of the composition of the tissueor other matter such as a somehow be reflected in the X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing. Such modification of thetissue composition may be similar to the modification of a tissuefunction as described above, but instead the instrument manipulationeffects the tissue oxygenation or CO₂ retention.

Within this disclosure, the term “matter aberration” can, depending uponcontext, relate to the matter composition (e.g., element composition) ofthe surrounding region that can be used to distinguish from thesurrounding matter based on the matter composition or other X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providingcharacteristics. Within this disclosure, including the appended claims,the terms “imaging”, “visualization”, “probing”, and/or “informationproviding” that at least partially rely on X-ray fluorescence can,depending context, be considered as being included individually or incombination within the inclusive term “X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing”. As such, it is envisioned that thereare a variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that are intended to be protected bythe scope of the claims of this disclosure.

There are a variety of elements that can be used to enhance or provideX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information provider bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tovisualize, image, or provide information based at least in part ontitanium or other implant elements, etc. Such titanium-basedvisualizing, imaging, or information providing may be particularlyuseful considering that it is a common metal used as implants withinhumans due to such characteristics as long wear, and resistance tocorrosive effects, within the body. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 cantherefore visualize, image, or provide information on the titanium in amanner that would be distinct or could be differentiated from thecalcium-based element of bones, while providing density-basedinformation about both the titanium and/or the calcium in certainembodiments. For example, an orthopedic surgeon could potentially bettervisualize, image, or provide information following surgery inputting ascrew into a bone, inserting a spinal construct, etc. Suchtitanium-based implants could also be X-ray fluorescence visualize,imaged, or have provided information following the implant, such assubsequent to surgery, on a routine checkup basis, etc. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can also enhance the X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing of or at the junction between implant,screws, constructs, etc. and tissue associated therewith. In thismanner, the operation, association with the matter, or integrity of theimplant, screws, constructs, etc. can be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided in manner that might provide suitable information,etc., to allow for limiting invasive surgery, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can also visualize, image, or provideinformation of the matter of the least portion of the individual basedat least partially on copper contained within the body. Copperrepresents the third most common metal element in the human body. Suchvisualizing, imaging, or information providing based on copper in thematter of the least portion individual could be a useful indicator ofinflammation of the matter of the individual, and notably certainabscesses could be detected using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Considerthat the reason that puss is green is, in part, due to the high coppercontent of the puss. For example, puss in neutrophils (that have copperbased enzymes) can be used to produce free radicals to combatinfections.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can visualize, image, or provide informationrelating to various elements to diagnoses and variety of diseases. Forexample, aberrant copper and iron deposition can be detected as a resultof specific diseases to such organs as the kidneys, brain, eyes (such asWilson's disease whose symptoms may include increased density of copperin the eyes), heart, liver, and brain (e.g., the basal ganglian). Assuch, since certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to richlyvisualize, richly image, or provide relatively detailed information of avariety of diseases, conditions, disorders, infections, etc. based atleast partially on elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterial present in the matter, as well as elemental density, chemicaldensity, compound density, and/or biological material density.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can improve visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing of matter within at least a portion (e.g., havinga high concentration of an element) of individual by ensuring thebackground contains relatively little of the element being used forvisualizing, imaging, or information providing. For example, suchelements of the matter can be selected that are unlikely to be presentin the normal or background matter. Alternatively, X-ray fluorescenceenhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. can be appliedto the matter that can bind to desired elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials to be visualized, imaged, or informationprovided, and may thereupon be used to enhance or provide thevisualizing, imaging, of information providing, and such X-rayfluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. andcould be selected to have limited presence in the background or othermatter of the at least the portion of the individual. Alternately,certain signal processing techniques may be used to filter out or limitthe distortive or interfering effects by similar or interfering elementsin the background matter. For example, those regions of the matterhaving a sufficient concentration or density of the element(s) beingused for the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding could be displayed or provided, while those regions having alower concentration or density might be filtered out, etc. such as byusing certain image processing and/or filtering techniques.

Certain aspects of X-ray fluorescence could be utilized to enhancevisualizing, imaging, or information providing, as described in thisdisclosure. For example, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can image based at leastpartially on elements (or with the use of X-ray fluorescence enhancingadditives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. can image for elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials) or densities thereofwithin particular targets such as the at least one target atom orfluorophore 121. Such matter aberrations as melanomas, cancers, abscess,arterial plaque, blood impurities, implants, inserts, etc. could bedifferentiated from surrounding matter based on the composition of theelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials (using,e.g., X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrastagents, etc.) using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Such matter aberrationscan cause fluorescing of certain of the target atom or fluorophore 121such as with tissue, teeth, bones, and/or junctions of different typematter, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be multi-modal, such as to beable to X-ray visualize, image, or provide information relating toelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials such aschloride. Chloride, for example, may be X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or information provided in manner that may be used to detectand/or indicate brain actuation or brain inhibition.

Certain implant, man-made devices, etc. may be identified with apresence of numbers, text, etc., using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Forinstance, certain implants or other man-made devices might be identifiedsuch as being physically coated with or coupled coupled to a barcode-type device that is associated with an implant (e.g., pacemakers,skeletal implants, etc.) that may be used to identify the device.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be used to read the bar-code, text, type,numerals, or other such information based on the elements that thebar-code, text, type, numerals, or other such information is printed orformed with. Certain implants, for example, may include, e.g., abar-code or other technique that might be X-ray detectable, opticaldetectable, encoder detectable, etc.

There can be a variety of configurations of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 depending at least inpart on configuration, that as described herein are intended to beillustrative in nature but not limiting in scope. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can therefore be configured to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information at least partially by employing a nearlymonochromatic illuminating X-ray “pencil” radiation, flooding radiation,fan-radiation, scanning radiation, or other ones of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150. For example,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to apply a fan, flooding,scanning, or other type of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 from the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 to a relatively large area of matter (such as arelatively large portion of a person); whereupon the X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can create an X-ray fluorescence visualization,image, or provided information that can be used to detect the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 being emitted by a relativelysmall area (e.g., within an internal organ such as a heart or brain, asmay be positioned using a catheter or other device) containing thetarget atom or fluorophore 121.

With certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, it may be desired to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information of at least some matter of atleast the portion of the individual that is particularly close, orproximate to, the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 (that may operate regardless of the position of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150. Suchconfigurations can operate based at least partially on the frequency ofthe at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122, and therefore howfar the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 can travelthrough the at least some matter of at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 can be selected to be of afrequency to travel for relatively extensive distances through the atleast some matter of at least the portion of the individual, such aswith a flooding beam, pencil-beam, or fan-beam, or other embodiment. Itis important that the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 be selected (e.g., having suitably high frequency) totravel to the at least some matter of at least the portion of theindividual being X-ray fluorescent visualized, imaged, or informationprovided.

There can be a variety of configurations of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 in which the respectiveat least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 canrespectively pass the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 and/or receive the at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 for various prescribed distances through the at least somematter of the at least a portion of the individual. Such prescribeddistance of the respective at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 and/or at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 can vary depending upon the respective energy levels (e.g.,characterized by frequencies). In certain instances, it might be desiredto pass the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120for relatively short distances through the matter, such as to pass for aconsiderable distance and thereby allow illumination of matter at anX-ray fluorescence location relatively shallowly into the individual,such as to illuminate a surface region of the individual. By comparison,in certain instances, it might be desired to pass the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 for relatively longdistances through the matter, such as to pass for a considerabledistance and thereby allow illumination of matter at the X-rayfluorescence location relatively deeply into the individual, such as toilluminate a relatively deep region of the individual. By comparison, incertain instances, it might be desired to receive the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 from relatively short distancesthrough the matter, such as to pass for a considerable distance andthereby allow X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding of matter at an X-ray fluorescence location relativelyshallowly into the individual. By comparison, in certain instances, itmight be desired to receive the at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 from relatively long distances through the matter, such as topass for a considerable distance and thereby allow X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing of matter at the X-rayfluorescence location relatively deeply into the individual.

Such selection of the percentage of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 and/or the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 travels for relative short or longer distancesthrough the matter of the individual may depend on the energy of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 or the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122. Typically, a large percentageof X-rays can travel for a considerable distance through matter, asevidenced by conventional transmissive X-rays that can often passthrough the tissues, organs, or other matter of large portions ofhumans. With X-raysd of lower energy levels than those used inconventional X-rays, the distance traveled may be considerably reduced,and a larger percentage of the X-rays can be absorbed.

By the process of X-ray fluorescence as described in this disclosurewith respect to FIGS. 3, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, and other locations in thisdisclosure, the frequency of each of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 that X-ray fluorescingly interfaceswith the at least one target atom or fluorophore 121 will cause areduction in the energy level (and a corresponding decrease in thefrequency) as the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 isbeing generated such as can be quantified as the characteristic energydrop which characteristically differs for each element (or chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials that have received X-rayfluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc.)undergoing X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding as described in this disclosure.

It may be desirable to configure the frequency of the induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 that undergoes X-ray fluorescence from the atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual (at theX-ray fluorescing event) to be of such a frequency as to be largelyabsorbed or attenuated by the at least some matter of the at least theportion of the individual prior to traveling for an extensive distancethrough the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. As such, the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 that travels through the at least some matter of the at least theportion of the individual that is received by the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 largely results from an X-rayfluorescing event proximate to (e.g., physically nearby) the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. As such, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured such that the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 substantially receive the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 from only physically proximateX-ray fluorescence event based on attenuation of the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 travelling through the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

There can be a considerable variety of embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that rely,at least least partially, on the absorbance, attenuation, or other suchprocess of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 withinrelatively short distances through at least some matter of theindividual, in combination with the relative transmission ornon-attenuation of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 for relatively long distances through at least some matterof the individual such as described with respect to FIGS. 5 to 12, andat other locations through the disclosure. For instance, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured such that the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 largely “floods” such thatthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 cantravel through a portion of the individual. Certain embodiments of theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can thereuponbe positioned proximate the X-ray fluorescing event(s) undergoing X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing in theflooded portions of the at least some matter of the at least the portionof the individual. Such flooding techniques can rely in certainembodiments on proximity of the X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual undergoing the X-ray fluorescing event(s), depending uponattenuation of much of the induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 thattravels for greater distances that within the proximate region.

Such “proximate” embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured such that the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be provided ona scope, catheter, tool, or other device within a localized region. Suchtechniques can provide localized X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing within a relatively small region suchas an organ, tissue, or other matter. For example, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be positioned as a tool, catheter, scope, etc. at a desiredlocation within the heart, brain, liver, intestine, wounded abdomen,etc., and a larger region can undergo flooding by the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. Certain proximity-basedembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can imageon a real-time or other basis of such critical organs as hearts, brains,livers, etc. (including the fluid passage thereto).

By comparison, certain “flooding” embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be utilized withpulse-type applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, and thereuponundergo X-ray fluorescence, visualizing, or information providing basedat least partially on time of flight calculations as described in thisdisclosure. Such computed time of flight duration can, depending oncontext, vary depending on the distance traveled of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120, the duration ofresulting X-ray fluorescing of the X-ray fluorescing event (which inmany instances with X-ray fluorescence can be comparatively neglectedsince it is relatively brief), and the distance traveled of the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122.

A number of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can rely on non-flooding techniques of theapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120, such as application ofpencil-beam, angle-beam, fan-beam, or other embodiments of the appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120. For example, certain tools,probes, scopes, catheters, etc. can include both the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. As such, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can beconfigured to operationally interface with the high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 such that the receiving technique of theformer is consistent with the later, and vice versa. For example, if thehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 is configuredto generate the applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 that isundergoing a scanning operation, then the X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 should be configured to receive the induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 based on receiving the scanned operation.Alternately, if the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 is configured to generate the applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 that is undergoing a flooding operation, then theX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 should be configured toreceive the induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122, which can operatebased at least partially on receiving the flooding operation, or othersuch operation.

Such techniques could be used to provide highly precise imaging,visualizing, or information providing that may be configured to operatein a static, fixed picture, video, real time, and/or other such mode.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could thereby be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information relative to blood,lymph, or other fluid flowing through, or contained in, an organ such asthe heart, brain, liver, etc., such as may be at least partially basedon elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials containedtherein.

Blood, lymph, explosives, bullets, tissue, wounds, infections, and avariety of other types of matter can be X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or information provided based at least partially on theelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials eithermaking up, contained within, or associated with the at least some matterof the at least the portion of the individual. Certain other exemplaryembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to apply a desired or suitable side orshape of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120and/or the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122. Athree-dimensional bullet-wound path or explosive-injury pattern could beX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided usingcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 based at least partially on the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials in the matter orotherwise associated therewith.

Certain medical diagnosis using conventional imaging techniques can betime-consuming, difficult, and require considerable skill andinterpretation. For example, certain doctors specializing in cancer,blood disorders, etc. might review output from a conventional MRI, CTscan, etc. for considerable duration to consider whether an aberrationand tissue, lung, bone, etc. should be of concern or is indicative thatfurther treatment may be useful or necessary, etc. One challenge withcertain types of conventional imagers, visualizers, or informationproviders is that while some matter might appear in the same shape as amatter aberration, there is often little indication as to the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials making up theparticular matter aberration. Since certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to provide an elemental, chemical, compound, and/orbiological material indication of the matter (of the normal matteraberration such as the tissue aberration), such elemental, compound,chemical, or biological material analysis can be used to make thedetermination, diagnosis, or analysis of a particular matter aberration(having particular element characteristics) more or less likely.

As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can provide for simplifying visualreview of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding such that the doctor (or other user) could target specificelements associated with certain illnesses, cancers, abscesses, heartconditions, infections, injuries, conditions, etc. such targetedelements, etc. can be imaged or visualized as a distinct or identifiablecolor or pattern. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can more finelydifferentiate matter, such as tissue, blood, bones, inserts, etc.

The quality of the visualizing, imaging, or information as provided bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that may be based at least partially on thedensity of the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials, included in or contained within the matter may thus likely be“richer”, more polychromatic, or more “robust”, and/or perhaps “more”detailed that a variety of conventional imagers that operate based ondensity of the matter being imaged, such as with conventional CT scansor MRIs. The increased richness of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may,depending on context, result from the visualizing, imaging, or providinginformation that can be distinguished based at least partially on theelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials in or withinthe matter, matter aberration, and/or matter irregularity. Suchincreased richness of the visualizing, imaging, or providing informationcan at least partially result from differentiation of differentelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials such as byproviding different colors, textures, text, etc., as an indication ofthe distinct matter. For instance, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that areconfigured to scan for cancer may indicate any elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials indicative of a higherprobability of cancer by a distinct color, shape, cross-hatching, and/orassociated text. It is also preferred that certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100provide an indication as to element, chemical, compound, and/orbiological material density, as well as element, compound, chemical,and/or biological material presence.

Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the visualizing, imaging,or providing information can be applied as to include, but is notlimited to, confocal X-ray fluorescence microscopy such as may be usedto look at an at least partially internal matter of at least a portionof the individual. For instance certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beattached to a portion such as a tip of a scope device (e.g., anendoscope) to provide a fiber confocal X-ray fluorescence microscopy,depending on the achievable resolution. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can usesuch image processing techniques as filtering, magnification, imagecombining, image subtraction, convolution, etc. to achieve the desiredlevel of magnification.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide for visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing of a richness or quality of information relatingto elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials that maybe suitable to limit the use of biopsies for living individuals, orautopsies for deceased individuals. As such, instead of using suchprocedures as invasive biopsies or autopsies, in certain instances,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be used to obtain, provide, or displaysimilar information as such procedures relating to the contents of theat least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.Since the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding can be performed quicker and less expensively than biopsies(and some times without as much doctor or surgeon interaction), certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can provide a very real cost, time, and patient dangersavings as compared to such procedures as certain biopsies or autopsies.Additionally, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can allow for scanner a wider volumeof matter than is typically possible with conventional imagers such asMRI or CAT scans that can be used in biopsies or autopsies.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can likely provide considerable cost savings,time savings, or danger for the individual (e.g., patient), the user(e.g., doctor, surgeon, dentist, researcher, etc.), as well as thegovernment or insurance company (e.g., Medicare, etc.) paying for thevisualizing, imaging, or information providing procedure. As an exampleof time savings and reliability by using certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, alarge number of moles on a persons back can be scanned for those thatmay be indicative of a melanoma. Those moles associated with orindicative of a melanoma might, for example, be relatively easilydetachable due to the presence of an indicative element often present insuch cancers as melanomas, as described in the disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to be relatively small,perhaps low power, and perhaps inexpensive, as compared to certainconventional imaging systems such as MRIs, CT scans, etc. This low poweraspect relies on the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 being configured to apply sufficient X-rays tocause the matter of the individual to fluoresce, instead of requiringthe X-rays to transmit through the portion of the individual as withtransmissive X-ray mechanisms. Certain MRI systems, for example, are soexpensive that certain hospitals and/or cities can economically justifyonly one (or a low number) that has to be expensively applied to avariety of applications. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be relativelyinexpensive to operate as compared with certain conventional imagers,and as such can be applied inexpensively to a variety of applications ata variety of different or multiple locations.

As such, certain conventional imaging modalities such as MRI may besufficiently expensive as to limit their use to only certain importantapplications. In addition, certain conventional tomographic devices aresufficiently expensive and time consuming as to limit their use to onlyparticularly serious or important applications. By configuring certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 to be smaller, less expensive, less time consuming, etc.,they can be used more frequently and for more applications. For example,certain doctor offices or hospital exam rooms used for specificapplications such as screening for cancer, heart condition, abscesses,brain condition, etc. can utilize certain specialized embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 thatmay be configured for its particular use, as well as relativelyinexpensive and easy to operate.

Another nearby operating room, patient room, doctor's office, dentaloffice, veterinarian, etc. can include another X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that may be configuredfor a different purpose, for example. Those in life-threateningconditions, operating rooms, or intensive care, for example, may benefitfrom a more recent updated or continuous, or substantially real-timeprogression of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that may be suitably devoted to aparticular application. It is likely that certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 maybe configured relatively smaller than many conventional imagers torequire considerably less space in doctors offices, medical examinationrooms, hospitals, veterinarians, dentists, researchers, etc. Due to suchfactors as expense, large size, high complexity, considerable operatingduration, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may, by comparison, be quite adaptive,relatively inexpensive, and re-configurable as desired. By configuringcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 to be relatively low power, relativelyinexpensive to purchase or operate, or relatively portable, such devicescan gain access to considerable portions of the world than up to thistime the population has not had access to desirable or appropriateimaging techniques. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could therefore beutilized in particularly rural, remote, or poorer regions to therebyimprove the available visualizing, imaging, or information providing,and therefore provide for considerable improved medical care asdescribed in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, orprovide information through a variety of information providing depths170 which may be as applied through a variety of thicknesses into the atleast one matter of the at least the portion of the individual,depending at least partially on configuration and/or operation. Forexample, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, or provide information pertaining through to one or moreprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths into varied portions ofthe at least a portion of an individual. Examples of such individualsthat can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided thereabout can include, but are not limited to: humans,animals, organism, and/or plants, combinations thereof, or a portionthereof. As such, a major or minor body portion of an animal or person,a leaf, a stem, or another portion of a plant, an organism or portionthereof, etc. represent examples of individuals that may be visualized,imaged, or information provided

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can include, but is not limited to,an at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150, an at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, and/oroptionally an at least one X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97. The at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can be, depending on context,configured to emit at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 into and/or through matter of the at least portion of theindividual 82 that can raise the energy level of the target atom orfluorophore 121 of the matter. With the energy level of the target atomor fluorophore 121 in a raised state, it can thereby emit at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 (in a somewhat random directionsince it is likely to be emitted in any direction as likely) asdescribed with respect to FIG. 3 or 4 c, in accordance with the generalprinciples of X-ray fluorescence as described below. The energy level ofwhich the target atom or fluorophore 121 release may thereby correspondto the chemical, atomic, element, and/or biological material structureof target atom or fluorophore. The at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can thereby, depending on context, beconfigured to receive high energy photons and/or particles that havebeen received from the matter (e.g., tissue, bones, etc.) of the atleast portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments of the at leastone high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can besituated within, outside of, or at least partially internal relative tothe at least a portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments of theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be situatedwithin, outside of, or at least partially internal relative to the atleast a portion of the individual 82.

Within this disclosure, the term “high energy” can, depending oncontext, be applied to a variety of the applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can include, but is not limited to, X-rays, gammarays, particles such as electrons, protons, neutrons, etc. as describedin this disclosure. FIGS. 1 and 2 differ in that the high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion 150 of FIG. 1 is described as the X-rayphoton emitter portion of FIG. 2. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information operate, forexample, at a relatively high energy. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 areconfigured such that at least some of the induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 are within the range of the particular electromagneticradiation. Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of thehigh-energy of the applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can,depending upon context or embodiment, be considered as beingalternatively: greater than or equal to 1K Volt, greater than or equalto 10K volts (both of which may generate photons characterized asX-rays), and/or greater than or equal to 100K Volt (also which maygenerate photons characterized as gamma rays). The use of such highenergy frequencies of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 and/or the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 may be particularly suitable using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to provideX-ray fluorescence depth visualization, depth imaging, and/or depthinformation providing for a considerable or controllable depth intoand/or through the matter of the at least the portion of the individualthat may be based at least partially on the density of the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter.

There are a variety of applications for certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, certainillustrative aspects are described. A variety of such aspects areintended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting in scope, as todescribe the variety of the embodiments. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldbe used in combination (such as in various configurations) with othervisualizing, imaging, or information providing modality, such asconventional MRI, CT scans, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to provide very goodresolution and/or magnification, such as with the confocal X-rayfluorescence microscopy techniques as described herein. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured with sufficient resolution and/ormagnification to provide an analysis of a genetic state of theindividual, etc. The genetic state of the individual may be used, forexample, to provide non-invasive biopsy for DNA imaging.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide for X-ray radiographic analysis(without necessarily relying on protons as with certain conventionalimagers or magnetic fields as with certain conventional MRI). Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can provide for dynamic imaging such as with use of signalpropagation as to provide an anatomic physiology or functionalphysiology of the matter of the at least the portion of the individual.For example, the tissue, plaque, muscle, fat, blood flowing through, orother matter of the heart could be imaged on a repetitive manner such asby detecting a rate of calcium flux (or certain other elemental aspects.Additionally, the flow of blood through the heart, kidneys, brain, orother organ, muscle, aorta, etc. can be visualized, imaged, or providedinformation based at least partially on iron (i.e., hemoglobin) or othersuitable elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide for early detection of strokes. Forexample, portion of tissue of the heart that is non-oxygenated, oroxygenated but not detected may be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided based at least partially on the level (density) ofoxygen. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can monitor the certain tissueoxygen levels to determine whether there is an increased likelihood ofheart attack, or stroke. Ischemia, which relates to reduction of bloodsupply to the heart (as well as other heart diseases) may be monitoredconsidering blood supplies as well as level of oxygen in the blood usingcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. As such, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canconsider the oxygen state of the blood, etc. Certain results from theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or providing information maybe indicative of stroke, heart attack, or other circulatory problem thatmay be based at least partially on the density of the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter (e.g., oxygenated tissue).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be applied to a variety of applicationssuch as biopsies, autopsies, anesthesia, drug or nutrition monitoring,etc. based at least partially on element composition in the blood,tissue, or other matter. Such monitoring of certain element compositionlevels can be performed when a person or animal is unconscious oranesthetized, such as during an operation, surgery, an accident, duringtransport to a hospital, etc.; as well as when the person or animal isconscious such as during a routine exam, being scanned for a condition,etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to provide relatively lowradiation emission, such as to limit the radiation dosage applied to theindividual. One example of such monitoring could include the ability todetect such element composition as fluorine or fluorine-based chemicals,compounds, or biological matter in anesthetized patients (e.g., usinghaloflorane). This may provide a non-invasive and effective way for theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 todetect levels or locations of inhaled anesthetic, as well as visualize,image, or provide information relating to inhaled anesthetic relative tothe individual such as a human particularly in certain matter of the atleast a portion of the individual that may be based at least partiallyon the density of the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be used to detect certain poisons,medications, elements, foods, etc. based at least partially on theirelement composition. For example, certain poisons, medications,elements, foods, etc. that include elements (e.g., lead), or are tracedwith, certain X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, orcontrast agents, etc. can be used to provide the element composition canbe X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or provide information basedat least partially on the element composition provided that the elementcomposition being used for the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,or information providing does not interfere with the background. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, orcontrast agents, etc. can be used in those instances where there mightbe interference between the background and certain elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials. In the instance of poisons, thelocations of the particularly high concentrations of the poisons couldbe monitored to determine where the affects of the poisoning may be mostadverse. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be utilized insuch fields as autopsies, biopsies, poisoning, nutrition, medication,etc. based on the element composition through the body of the individual(e.g., person) based on use of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured for operation using anaddition of contrast agent, such as via a probe that may be consideredas one embodiment of a tool as described in this disclosure. Suchcontrast agent may allow for improved X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing based on certain elements, as well asallowing or improving X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing based on certain elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials such as may have receptors to absorb ormaintain the contrast agents. This may amount to addition of fluorescingelement such as can be received by a particular elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials, or alternately enhancement ofexisting fluorescing element. Certain matter of the individual may bemonitored using the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing techniques for a varied rate of contrast flux, forexample.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to provide possible userinterface including creating color coding, gray scale, analyzed data,and other techniques such as may provide for multiple elemental imagingsequences be viewable in a way that aids diagnosis and/or anatomicevaluation. Such techniques may have the effect of increasing therichness of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding such as by allowing element, chemical, compound, and/orbiological material aspects to be reviewed or monitored and/or moreeasily considered.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to monitor for glutamatereceptors. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter in nerve cells that binds toall glutamate receptors located on neuron membranes, and is an exampleof a transmembrane receptor. Glutamate is a common neurotransmitter inthe body, and exists in much of the nervous tissue in humans. Glutamate,when it binds, allows calcium to pass through. Magnesium is an exampleof an element which may participate in the glutamate/glutamate receptorinteraction. With ligand receptor binding, the magnesium can be removedfrom the ion channel allowing calcium to influx into the cell. As such,the magnesium, for example, can be traced using certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,such as to determine a region of the brain undergoing certain (e.g.,toxic) functions.

Such embodiments of visualizing, imaging, or information providing basedat least partially on elements as described in this disclosure areintended to be illustrative in nature, but not limiting in scope. It islikely that there will be a large variety of elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials they can be used for visualizing,imaging, or providing information that may be based at least partiallyon the density of the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter, as described inthis disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,and/or information providing can operate at least partially at the highenergy level (e.g., corresponding to frequency or wavelength) of thehigh energy photon and/or particle to depth visualize, image, or provideinformation for a considerable prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth into the individual 82. Conventional transmissive X-rays aregenerally understood as being capable of being capable of passing forconsiderable distances through tissue, bones, bodily fluids, or othermatter of individuals such as persons, animals, etc. As such, certainembodiments of the high energy photons and/or particles, as emitted bythe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150, can pass for a considerable prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth through a variety of tissue or matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual 82 to a prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth that may be based at least partially on the density,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 maythereupon be used to indicate a presence or absence of an element in thematter of the at least a portion of the individual, since each of thetarget atom or fluorophore 121 fluoresces at its characteristicfrequency. The amount of the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth may be based at least partially on the energy level, matter, andcharacteristics of the emitted at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 and/or the at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 that may be based at least partially on the density,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter.

Some energy may be lost as the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 is converted into the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 by the fluorescing event occurring within the atleast one target atom or fluorophore 121. Within this disclosure, thefrequency or energy level of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 may be selected such that the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon 122 may be emitted within the X-rayfluorescence range during X-ray fluorescence.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can map the matter of the at least the portionof the individual based at least partially on the element concentrationin the matter, or the densities of the elements. Such mapping can beprovided for a single element, or for a number of elements (e.g., eachelement may be mapped using a different color or combinational color,etc.). As such, the operators of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can selecta particular color associated with an element, or combination ofelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials, etc. duringscreening of the at least portion of the individual for that element, orcombination of elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials, etc.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 150 of FIG. 1 can thereby include an X-ray version asdescribed with respect to FIG. 2. This follows since certain frequenciesor energy levels of the applied high energy photon and/or particle 120can produce certain of the induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 uponfluorescing of the at least one target atom or fluorophore 121. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 may be configured to sense the location, concentration,shape, severity, or other aspects of certain elements within the atleast a portion of the individual. Such X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing based at least partially onconcentration of particular elements may be particularly useful in thoseinstances where the existence of the certain elements within theindividual may indicate a particular sickness, injury, cancer, abscess,infection, illness, bodily condition (e.g., heart, liver, bone, etc.).Such locating can be at least partially utilized in, or associated with,the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing,based at least partially on characteristics and/or configurations of thematter, tissue, bodily fluids, bones, skeletal portions, etc.

The X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingmay result, in certain embodiments, in an application or travel ofeither the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120and/or induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 through at least some matteror across at least one surface delineating the matter. Such X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) can X-ray fluorescence at one or more fluorescing event within anat least one X-ray fluorescence range to at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information within aregion or volume extending between at least two prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depths 170. As such, certain regions and/or volumescan be spaced an X-ray fluorescence range of prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depths or distances from a surface 168 of the atleast the portion of the at least a portion of the individual. Theregion or volume of the individual 82 that is being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have information provided can be of some selectedand/or controllable thickness, which when made arbitrarily thinner maybe considered as approaching a two-dimensional substantially homogeneoussurface.

Depending upon the configuration or usage of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, it may be desired tohave the regions for photons and/or particles pass through theindividual 82 either along the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 to cause the matter of the individual 82 tofluoresce, or alternatively the at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 that is emitted from the at least a portion of the individual82 upon X-ray fluorescence. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can varyfrom precise application of the applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 relative to a relatively concentrated portion of theindividual 82 extending to flooding the individual, or portion thereof,with the applied high energy photon and/or particle 120.

Certain of the “X-ray fluorescence range” to the “prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth”, as described in this disclosure, may bevisualized, image, or provide information at least partially based ondetermining the characteristic frequency through to the at least oneX-ray fluorescence range to at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth (or alternately the at least one substantially X-rayfluorescence range at or between at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth(s)). The at least one X-ray fluorescence rangeto at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth may,depending upon context, pertain to the X-ray fluorescence range withinthe region of the matter of the at least the portion of the individualthat is undergoing X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing.

The at least one X-ray fluorescence range to at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth may, depending upon context,pertain to the region of the matter of the at least portion of theindividual to which the at least one applied high-energy photon orparticles are being applied substantially down to the prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth (as well as a potential variety ofthe X-ray fluorescence ranges of the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth).

Certain of the at least one applied high-energy photon or particles canalter their applied energy level, such as to travel to a variety ofprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths into the matter of theat least the portion of the individual.

Certain of the at least one applied high-energy photon or particles cancontinue to pass to beyond the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth (but this number may be relatively small or at leastdistinguishable such as to allow their effects to be filtered out orotherwise limited). The at least one applied high-energy photon orparticles that continue to pass beyond the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth may thereupon, following fluorescing interaction orfluorescing event with the atoms of the matter of the at least theportion of the individual, cause the atoms of the matter to fluoresce,and thereupon generate fluorescing photons at depths greater than theprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. The X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or information provided matter of the at least theportion of the individual can dimensionally vary considerably indifferent embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as well as in different individuals, orportions thereof. For instance, such X-ray fluorescence ranges of theprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths can vary from aninfinitesimal dimension, through a few to hundreds of microns, to aconsiderable or entire distance through such individuals as humans,animals, plants, and/or organisms. The particular prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth can depend on such factors as theconfiguration, type, use, fluorescing tendency, matter being X-rayfluorescence visualized or imaged, matter including elements being X-rayfluorescence visualized or imaged, and/or or matter being imaged; aswell as the type, power, directionality, and/or other characteristic ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

The potential quality, resolution, potential applications, and/oraccuracy, of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding can vary, in different embodiments, based at least partiallyon variations of, e.g.: configurations, designs, and/or numbers ofprobes included in the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151. Resolution of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can, incertain embodiments, to be down to 1 mm or even for, which is similar tocertain conventional MRI. The variation of the quality, resolution,potential applications, and/or accuracy, of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can further continue tosophisticated imaging systems allowing for detailed X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing.

Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 could be applied from an at leastpartially internal location to the individual, applied from an at leastpartially external location to the individual, configured as a completeunit, and/or configured as a number of combined units at least some ofwhich may interact together.

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be configured as unitarydevices, distinct units of devices, combined units of devices, discreteunits of devices, arrays of distinct devices, and/or alternately asarrays of composite devices. Such varied, complex, or other devices madeusing such processes as semiconductor processing, very large scaleintegration (VLSI), ultra large scale integration (ULSI), and/or otherknown semiconductor or other manufacturing processes. The X-rayfluorescence depth visualization, imaging, or information processingassociated with the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 and/or at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 should be selected to be suitable for operation of theparticular device(s), as well as the potential user input.

The associated X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, informationproviding, and/or processing devices and/or associated techniques cantherefore be designed, used, processed, and/or scaled based, at least inpart, on the sophistication and complexity of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments ofX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing canbe performed by a variety of either at least partially internalembodiments, and/or at least partially external embodiments. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in the disclosure, can be at least partiallygeneralized to, and generally at least partially operate according to,the disclosure as described with respect to the block diagrams of FIGS.1 and/or 2.

Certain types of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing that may be able to operate its certain X-rayfluorescence ranges to prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth,resolutions, colors, characteristic frequencies, etc. to can beconfigured to perform certain activities are types of diagnosis better,similar to, or worse than others. This disclosure describes a number ofembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that may each be configured for X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing such as may be suitedto detect particular illnesses, injuries, infections, cancers, tumors,bone conditions, abscesses, teeth, implants, etc. in either a devoted ormulti-purpose manner. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be relativelyinexpensive to purchase and/or operate as compared with certainconventional tomographic imagers due to potential simplicity in design,relatively lower power systems, etc. As such, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 mightbe used for varied operations (such as in a vehicle), or alternately anumber of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured for devoted applications, instead of asingle relatively expensive conventional imager may have to be used formany applications due to its expense and size (e.g., MRIs). As such,each devoted embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured in the used only a fourthparticular task, and may not have to be reconfigured for multiple taskspossibly making the overall operation simpler and limiting thelikelihood of confusion.

The FIG. 1 or 2 embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, shown in block diagram format, can beapplied to a variety of configurations, operating X-ray frequencies orenergies, etc. as well as applications, etc. FIG. 3 shows, for example,a diagram of a fluorescing event associated with an X-ray photon of theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 contacting atarget atom and/or fluorophore 121. The target atom and/or fluorophore121 may be included as at least a portion of the “matter” of theindividual as described in this disclosure that can be X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided based at leastpartially on elemental composition (or with the use of X-rayfluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. canimage for composition of elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials) or densities thereof within. After the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 contacts at least aportion of the target atom and/or fluorophore 121, then an at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 can be generated/emitted (usuallyin a somewhat random direction) from the target atom and/or fluorophore121. Within this disclosure, the term “fluorophore” can, depending uponcontext, pertain to atoms, particles, etc. that are capable ofundergoing a fluorescing event, or X-ray fluorescence. Such elements oratoms that can undergo X-ray fluorescence can be in their natural stateand/or may include the X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants,or contrast agents, etc. to enhance the X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing. The at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 may generally lose energy during itstransition to generate the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 during the fluorescing event. Such loss of energy may at leastpartially result from heat and transition of displaced atoms between thevarious valence bands within the target atom and/or fluorophore 121(included as at least a portion of the “matter” of the individual asdescribed in this disclosure). Such fluorescing of the target atomand/or fluorophore 121 during the fluorescing event often results inloss of energy therein.

The X-ray fluorescence energy level can be used to derive the energytransfer based on the equations included in this disclosure, and asdescribed with respect to FIG. 3. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding can be derived based at least partially on a combination of:a) the initial trajectory (direction and energy level of the atom) ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 such asmay be emitted by the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 of FIG. 1 or 2 in which the detected fluorescingposition which the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 canbe received at the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 of FIG. 1 or 2, for example, and c) the detected angle of the atleast one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 being received as may bedetected by certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be used to visualize, image, or provideinformation relating to nerve condition, muscle, etc. as may be used toindicate nerve conduction or muscle extension/retraction. Such nerveconduction or muscle extension/retraction may be visualized, imaged, orhave information provided at least partially as a result of detection ofsodium, potassium, calcium, or other such element such as may be used toindicate nerve conduction or muscle contraction\expansion. It may bepossible to use certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to more easily detect,analyze, and even perhaps treat Alzheimer's disease, or otherneurological or spinal disease or condition that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials, included in or contained within the matter as moreelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials, etc. areunderstood to be used to detect or scan for their presence. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be multi-modal, such as to be able to detect elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials like, or that include,chloride (e.g., chlorine). Chloride may be used to detect brainactuation or brain inhibition in humans or animals.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may, depending on context, be used to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information relating to suchaspects as elements, infections, additives, differentiable symptoms,etc. associated with the flu, bronchitis, common cold, etc.

Those induced X-ray fluorescing photons 122 emitted from identicalelements of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual (e.g., the target atom) should have similar or identicalcharacteristic energy levels of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photons 122, as may be referred to the characteristic energyfor that particular element. As such, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can operateto detect the presence or absence of certain elements in the volume byfiltering (such as by using a notch filter) those X-ray fluorescingphotons 122 being applied to the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151, which typically fall within a particularenergy level/frequency corresponding to the characteristic energy of theelements (or chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials)indicative of the presence of elements and their particular location ordensity. As such, an entire individual, or a portion thereof, could bescanned for particular elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that may be based atleast partially on the densities of the elements (or chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials) included in or contained withinthe matter.

As such, the characteristic energy as produced by certain photon thathave undergone X-ray fluorescence generally corresponds to the energyloss resulting at least partially from the fluorescing event, and thecharacteristic energy should be similar or identical for fluorescingevents occurring from the same element. For example, certain electronsof certain elements (such as iodine or calcium) may produce by X-rayfluorescence at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 havingidentical energies, and therefore frequencies when their electronsreturn to their relaxed state, which corresponds to the characteristicenergy level or characteristic wavelength of the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon 122. The X-ray fluorescing position of theX-ray fluorescing event generating the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 can be determined based at least partially on theX-ray fluorescence equations, photonic equations, Stokes equations,energy equations, etc. as described herein, as well as geometricequations. By compiling a large number of X-ray fluorescence angles andpositions of the received at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 of fluorescing events, and is obtained by one or more of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, an image can bederived having a continuously improving image quality with an increasingnumber of detection of fluorescing events.

X-ray fluorescence, as described with respect to FIGS. 3, 4 a, 4 b, and4 c, may be considered to be a type of luminescence, in whichsusceptible molecules emit X-ray photons from electronically excitedstates. X-ray fluorescence can result from at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 being applied either from within theoptical, X-ray, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma or certain other spectra.For the purpose of this disclosure, though, the emitted induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 may, depending on context, be considered to bewithin the X-ray spectra. Certain aspects of this disclosure may,depending on context, be particularly directed to high energy photons orparticles, such as the X-ray, gamma, or other spectra that areparticularly applicable to penetrate into the matter of the individual82, and are therefore useful for X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing.

X-ray fluorescence may be established using a variety of mechanisms, butwithin this disclosure X-ray fluorescence can, depending upon contextsuch as described with respect to FIG. 4 a, may relate to a high energyphoton or particle in the form of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 being applied to the target element, therebyraising the energy level of at least one of the electrons of the targetelements to a higher energy state and as described with respect to FIG.4 b. Thereupon, the electron whose energy state is raised returns to thenormal state, and the high energy photon in the form of the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 can be emitted as described withrespect to FIG. 4 c. The characteristic energy, and associatedwavelength, of the induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 as describedwith respect to FIG. 4 c may be characterized according to the at leastone element included in high energy photon, and may be characterizedaccording to the characteristic energy level. As such, the term “X-rayfluorescence” may, depending on context, relate to an X-ray phenomenonin which the molecular absorption of a photon triggers the emission ofanother photon with a longer wavelength (i. e., lower frequency or lowerphotonic energy level) such as comparing the energy of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 of FIG. 4 a with respectto the energy of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122as described with respect to FIGS. 4 c. The energy difference betweenthe absorbed and emitted photons may result in the production ofmolecular vibrations and/or heat. Usually the absorbed photon is in theX-ray fluorescence range, gamma-ray range, or other suitable range(e.g., particle range) and the emitted light is in the X-rayfluorescence range, but this depends on the absorbance curve and Stokesshift of the particular target atom or fluorophore 121. X-rayfluorescence can thereby occur when a molecule relaxes to its groundstate after the electrons of the target atom or fluorophore 121 iselectronically excited as described with respect to FIGS. 3, 4 a, 4 b,and 4 c.

There are a variety of aspects of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence that may be utilized by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Stokesshift, for example, may be considered as the difference, e.g., measuredin wavelength or frequency, between positions of the band maxima of theabsorption and luminescence spectra (or X-ray fluorescence) of the sameelectronic transition of the electron of the target atom or fluorophore121. When the target atom or fluorophore 121 absorbs photons, such as byabsorbing the applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, theelectron of the at least one target atom or fluorophore 121 can enter anexcited electronic state. The Stokes shift occurs because, and may becharacterized by, the electrons of the target atom or fluorophore 121while in its excited state losing a small amount of the absorbed energybefore re-releasing the rest of the energy. Such re-releasing of theenergy may cause production of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 at least partially using X-ray fluorescence, andmay be referred to as Stokes X-ray fluorescence. The energy associatedwith the Stokes shift is often lost as thermal energy. Stokes X-rayfluorescence may be considered to represents the reemission of longerwavelength (lower frequency) photons (energy) by the target atom orfluorophore 121 that has absorbed photons of shorter wavelengths (higherfrequency).

Both absorption and radiation (emission) of energy are uniquecharacteristics of the particular target atom or fluorophore 121 duringthe X-ray fluorescence process. Certain embodiments of the applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 can be absorbed by the target atom orfluorophore 121, which causes electrons of the target atom orfluorophore 121 to become excited to a higher electronic state. Theelectrons of the target atom or fluorophore 121 can remain in theexcited state for some duration then, assuming all of the excess energyis not lost by collisions with other molecules, the electron of thetarget atom or fluorophore 121 can thereupon return to the ground state.Energy can be emitted during this return to the ground state in the formof a generation of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122. The at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 emitted bythe target atom or fluorophore 121 typically has a longer wavelengththan its corresponding applied high energy photon and/or particle 120absorbed by the target atom or fluorophore 121, due largely to limitedcharacteristic energy drop/loss by the target atom or fluorophore 121(which occurs during emission of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122). The characteristic energy drop may beconsistent (e.g., characteristic) for each element.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby utilize mechanisms that caninclude, but may not be limited to, the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 as well as the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain embodiments of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information such as whichcan thereupon be analyzed, displayed, computed, and/or processed, etc.Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can include, but is not limited to, at least one detectorportion 152 and/or the at least one display portion 154. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider may allow the X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, orinformation provided to be captured, processed, filtered, and/orcombined, etc. based at least partially on such imaging or processingtechniques as: deconvolution, transform (e.g., integral transform,inverse Fourier transform, inverse FFT, etc.), image subtraction,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, inverse integral transform, subtractive inverseintegral transform, inverse functional transform, and subtractiveinverse functional transform, or other such processes or computations,and other known image processing or other processing algorithms. SuchX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing mayoccur either on a one time, multiple times, repetitive, continuous, orother such basis, perhaps in an as-programmed, user controlled,as-desired, or other suitable manner.

Within this disclosure, deconvolution techniques (such as can utilizeprocessing, image processing, computation, image combination, and/orother similar techniques) can be used to limit or reduce the obscuringeffect(s) of depth of matter, tissue, X-ray opaque matter, noise, etc.as applied to cloud desired images, etc. As such, deconvolution can beused to clarify the X-ray fluorescence visualization(s), image(s),and/or provided information. Deconvolution techniques and technologiesare well established and understood, and have been in use in certaintechnological areas since prior to World War II. Deconvolution isconventionally used in image processing, signal processing, and othercomputer-based imaging techniques. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilizedeconvolution, transforms, and other distortion diminishing techniques.Such techniques can limit the amount of distortion, as well as enhance,X-ray fluorescence visualizing quality, imaging quality, and/orinformation quality enhancing techniques may be used for limitingdistortive effects resulting at least partially from, for example: X-rayopaque matter, obscuring matter, signal noise, etc. such as to identifyor X-ray fluorescence visualize aircraft hidden in clouds, limit signalsand/or images in noisy backgrounds, medical imaging, etc. Other suchdistortion-limiting image processing techniques may be applied, whereappropriate, in a manner as would be obvious to one skilled in the art.

The “matter” of the human or animal individuals (such as by includingfluorophores can undergo fluorescing as described in this disclosure)that can be X-ray fluorescence visualize to, image, or informationprovided, or alternatively can provided background to the X-rayfluorescence, visualizing, imaging, or information providing can,depending upon context include, but is not limited to: tissue, flesh,muscle, fluorophores (naturally existing and/or enhanced), opticallyopaque tissue, organ(s), bone(s), bone part(s), hair, bone fragment(s),implant(s), fat, blood vessel(s), blood capillary(s), skin, teeth,epidermis, dermis, brain, tumors, cysts, contrast agents such asiodinated contrast agents, gadolinium, certain fluid(s), blood or bloodcomponent(s), CSF, irrigant, IV fluids, water, aqueous solutions,implant materials such as ceramic, steel, titanium, nitinol, etc. Plantand organism embodiments can include such matter (naturally occurring orman-made or applied) that can be imaged, X-ray fluorescence visualized,or have information provided depending at least partially on thestructure and/or location being imaged as a portion of, and/orassociated with, the plant or organism. As such, certain matter orfluorophores can be naturally-occurring, while others may utilizeapplication of the X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, orcontrast agents, etc. to enhance or provide the differentiation ofmatter aberration for the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can achieve relatively high resolution of theirX-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or informationprovided. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured suchthat the matter of the at least the portion of the individual can beinclusively imaged as at least a portion of the individual 82. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can X-ray fluorescence depth visualization, image, and/orprovide information relating to a considerable number of distinct typesof matter as compared with, for example, certain conventional X-raytechniques.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to such matter of the atleast the portion of the individual as such tissue as flesh, tissue,muscle, fat, fluid (blood, lymph, spinal fluid, etc.) in a controllableand/or adjustable manner. In this manner, an initial X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing can be performed ofa region, and upon locating areas of interest, the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can be filtered,processed, analyzed, compared, transformed, adjusted, magnified, angled,etc. as described in this disclosure to X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to desired regions. Suchfluorescing visualizing, imaging, or information providing techniques,that may be similar to those in common usage and conventional imagingsystems, are intended be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be used to X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to the spine of humans oranimals, such as may be particularly useful with certain spinalsurgeons, doctors, chiropractors, etc. Such X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing of the human or animalspine (as well as associated plates, pins, blood vessels, muscles, etc.)can be performed prior to, during, and/or following surgery; and canprovide imaging, X-ray fluorescence visualizing, or provide informationof appropriate or desired quality depending on the desired purpose,equipment, condition, or application. Such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing following surgery canbe provided at one or more suitable angles, such as to illustrateinteraction with plates, pins, constructs, etc. relative to the spine,associated nerves, bones, and associated pins, constructs, etc. Thoseembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that are configured to image the matter, spine, bones,tissue, implants, etc. should be configured based on the desired depthimaging, X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, and/or examination, andmay be adjusted and/or controlled, perhaps on a near real time basis, oranother basis.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described with respect to many of thefigures and at other locations through this disclosure, primarilypertain to devices that can display X-ray fluorescence visualizationsand/or images over various embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. By comparison, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, such as illustratively described with respect to FIG. 43and at other locations through this disclosure, can pertain to displaysthat can provide information in such form as text, analysis, data,graphs, data computations, or other processed information, or acombination or modification thereof, etc. More particularly, FIG. 43illustrates a non-limiting example of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that can provide information, text,data, etc. in other non-image or non-visualization form. Depending onthe application of the particular embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, such information, text,data, etc. can include such derived sentences as “the patient's toothhas no cavities”, “the flow through the patients artery is some numberof gallons per minute”, “this cow is free of mad cow disease”, etc. thatmay be based at least partially on at least one particular densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials, included inor contained within the matter that can be X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or information provided. The various embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,as described in this disclosure, can also include a graphical userinterface, buttons, switches, or other mechanism to allow a user orindividual to provide input as to the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing as desired, suitable, and/or designed.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing such information can be relatively computationallysimplified as compared with the conventional imagers, such as MRIs, CATscans, etc. Also, certain embodiments of the X-ray source can bespecialized by “scanning” or other imaging, information providing, orvisualizing technique for a particular elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials as described in this disclosure, such as maybe utilized by relatively unskilled users or operators. As such, withinthis disclosure, each of the terms “X-ray fluorescence visualize”,“image”, or “provide information” is, depending on context, intended tobe inclusive of each of these terms.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured for a variety of particularapplications. The user of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may select a particularaspect such as quality, refresh rate, real-time aspects, resolution,color, etc. based on the particular task at hand. For example, a doctorexamining a patient's external skin may obtain one or more X-rayfluorescence visualizations, images, or provided information, or maytreat certain surface aberrations using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Also, asurgeon or other user who is using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that may beattached, integrated, or otherwise secured to a surgical tool. Examplesof certain embodiments of surgical tools that may utilize certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 may be used in examples of such procedures as cutting,separating, ablating, deforming, processing, tactile feedback providing,adding material, removing material, or otherwise handling matter such astissue, bone, fluid, blood, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be satisfied with various quality X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations or images that can vary from detailedor excellent images to relatively sketchy images of X-ray fluorescencevisualizations. Detailed images, for example, can provide arepresentation of the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. In certain instances, relatively sketchy X-ray fluorescencevisualizations or provided information (which can still includeinformation about elemental composition, density, etc.) adequate toindicate a relative position of a desired X-ray fluorescence visualizeditem such as a blood vessel, bone, portion, nerve, construct, etc., suchas can be used to enhance locating or avoidance during use of suchillustrative but not limiting tools such as scalpels, cutters, gammaknives, laser cutters, tactile feedback providers, ablators, scopes,Bovie electrocautery devices, material adding tools, material removingtools, etc. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toprovide for textual output of the provided information (likely based onsome image or other processing or analysis) of that matter of the atleast the portion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beprovided at a refresh rate sufficient rate to operate as desired, oroperate a tool in combination as desired without contacting bloodvessels, nerves, or other matter to be protected within the individual,for example. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be associated with avariety of tools; and can be used to assist in X-ray fluorescencevisualizing or information providing during such tool actions as, butnot limited to: deforming, separating, distorting, guiding, cutting,avoiding, and other such actions as can be performed by a variety of thetools.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, orprovide information based at least partially on the elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials including the at least one targetatom or fluorophore 121. As such, at least portions or the entirety ofthe individual (e.g., portion of a human, animal, plant, or organism)can be scanned for elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials using a variety of techniques as described in this disclosure.Consider that certain elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials can be indicative of illnesses, infections, injuries, orconditions (e.g., cancer, heart disease, gangrene, Alzheimers disease,abscesses, gun-shot wounds, explosions, etc.). As such, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured such that areas or portions of theindividual that likely have a condition, infections, illness, injuries,etc. can be detected particularly in those instances where the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials is relatively sparsein the background being visualized, imaged, or having informationprovided. For instance, assume that iodine, iron (e.g., in hemoglobin),calcium, or some other elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials is indicative of some medical condition, and the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials are not located inappreciable concentration in the background being visualized, imaged, orinformation provided. As such, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilizeprocessors or filters, etc. (e.g., notch filters), etc. to limit theX-rays being received at the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 that can indicate the characteristic frequency of aparticular elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsfor which the at least the portion of the individual is beingvisualized, imaged, or information provided. Certain of the at least onetarget atom or fluorophore 121 can receive a X-ray fluorescenceenhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents, etc. such as toimprove the visualizing, imaging, or information providing by certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. Consider that certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to visualize, image, or provide information relative to bonestructure, teeth structure, junctions between teeth and/or bones withtissue, etc. based on the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials in the portion being imaged (assuming thatrelatively little of the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials are in the background or field of view).

As such, to enhance visualizing, imaging, or information providing basedat least partially relative to elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials, the background or general area being visualized,imaged, or information provided should be considered as to theirconcentration of those elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials. For instance, assuming that certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 were beingused to visualize, image, or provide information based oniron/hemoglobin (e.g., blood), then such visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing can be enhanced if there is little other iron inthe background matter of the individual being imaged.

Additionally, filtering and/or image processing techniques (which mayrepresent adapted versions of those currently in use) may be utilized tolimit at least some of the potentially interfering aspects of elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials in the backgroundwhere the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsare being visualized, imaged, or information provided. For example,certain filtering, notch filtering, Markov filter, adaptive filtering orprocessing, or other such filtering or processing techniques may beutilized to limit the effect of background elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials that are being visualized,imaged, or provided information.

Certain embodiments of tools that can be associated with, or operativelycoupled to, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can provide tactile feedback to auser. Such tactile feedback providing tool can be used particularly incombination with certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, such as to allow theuser to perform such tactile feedback operations as “feeling” and/or“touching” (or at least receiving information corresponding to feelingor touching) the various regions of the individual for treatment orexamination purposes, even if only remotely while similarly observingthe region. The use of tactile feedback mechanisms is generallyunderstood by those skilled in the robotics, automation, surgical, andother such arts or technical areas. Certain orthopedic surgeons, etc.,who are interested in general positions of such particular matter asbones, organs, etc. may be satisfied with X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations and/or images that have limited resolution or imagequality. As such, certain embodiments of the tactile feedback providermay be considered as “tools” within certain meanings and/or certaincontexts as applied within this disclosure. Additionally, certain usersmay select to use certain scintillator or other fluoroscope embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 that may be based at least partially on the density, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter, as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be configured to operate in associationwith at least one tool portion relative to, for example, at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual. The particularcomponent and/or configuration selected may depend, at least in part, onthe application of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 and/or the associated tool. For instance,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be associated with a particular tool,including but not limited to: an at least one cutting tool, an at leastone scalpel, an at least one laser cutter, an at least one tactilefeedback provider, an at least one ablator, an at least one scope, an atleast one Bovie electrocautery device, an at least one material addingtool, an at least one material removing tool, etc. such as to allow auser to search, image, or X-ray fluorescence visualize within aparticular region for a specific elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials, etc. as a tool-based process is being performed.Such imaging, X-ray fluorescence visualization, or information providingmay be used relative to the location of blood vessels, cancer, tumors,organs, infections, injuries, abscesses, etc. Alternately, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to detect, X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relative to an area of potentialinterest, such as a field of surgical operation, within the at least theportion of the individual in which at least the at least the portion ofthe individual.

A user may desire to use certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to image, X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at aconsiderable depth into matter such as tissue, and/or obtain X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations or images that may have a highresolution or quality. Certain X-ray fluorescence visualizations orimages that can be produced by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be ofsimilar quality of such conventional imaging as, for example, MRI, CATScans, PET scans, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be performedrelatively quickly as compared with conventional imaging modalities,such as in certain instances to be applied on a near-real time basis.The user may thereupon select to use certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that relyupon consider image processing to achieve suitable and/or desired X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing quality,as described in this disclosure. As such, the user can select one ormore suitable embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider based, at least in part, on the particular taskat hand.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be applied from a variety of embodiments ofmechanisms that can be configured to provide X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing structures, includingdepending on context, but not limited to: platforms, tables, hand-held,endoscopes, attached to or integrated within a tool, etc. Within thisdisclosure, the description of the particular X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing structure being used isintended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting in scope. Assuch, it is intended that a description of an embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 beingapplied to a particular X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing structure may be applied to a variety of X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingstructures, depending on context.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize directionality of travel of the atleast one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 as received at the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, which may beutilized to determine a location of the fluorescing events. Followingdetermination of the directionality of travel of the high-energyphotons, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may determine a location of and/ordetermine the amount of energy following X-ray fluorescence interactionwith the electrons and/or particles of the matter to raise the energystate of the atom, wherein the relaxation of the energy state can bedetected by such detectors as may be included in the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Such devices as collimators,filters, polarizers, may be utilized to limit travel of certain of theat least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 that are being appliedto certain detector portions 152 and/or the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 that are being received by the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 to those traveling withinparticular directions. The energy level variation (which is likely aloss as a result of heat generation principles) of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 that, upon contacting thetarget atom or fluorophore 121, may cause the target atom or fluorophoreto approach its excited state. When in a sufficiently high excitedstate, certain embodiments of the target atoms or fluorophores 121within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of thematter of the individual may likely undergo the fluorescing event,releasing the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be performed using a variety of mechanisms andinvolving a variety of techniques. Determination of the depth withinmatter of the at least the at least the portion of the individual thatis being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, and/or informationprovided, can be at least partially derived involving analyticaldetermination, computation as well as numerical calculation such as canbe performed by computers and/or controllers; or alternately can involveexperimentation or analysis. Certain aspects of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can be based on suchfactors as each particular matter being X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or information provided, the energy level and/or frequency ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/orat least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122, and/or other suchfactors. Certain versions of such X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing that may rely at least partially ontomography, or other similar mechanism, such as may result fromgenerating a series of X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing slices, etc. Each X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing slice being relatively thin can helpto enhance quality or consistency (e.g., homogeneity) of the X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or image providing such as which maybe enhanced across certain X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing slices, such that by utilizing analysis,comparison, our processing of the information or data between thedifferent X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or image providingslices.

Certain techniques associated with the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be similar to those that provideX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing slicessuch as with conventional tomography imaging techniques. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing slices can be arranged in a variety of shapesincluding, but not limited to, in a straight, curved, complex, or someother desired or suitable or desired shape. Combining a number of theX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providingslices, which may be considered as a three dimensional region of X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information provider having alimited thickness that can be imaged by the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can produce a thickerimage or X-ray fluorescence visualization of the particular matter andwith a non-combined X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing slices. This disclosure initially describes avariety of techniques for such X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing.

Consistency of the matter being X-ray fluorescence visualized as imagedacross the thickness can thereby improve imaging quality, especially inthe direction parallel to a direction at which the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or image providing be being performed. Forinstance, such visualizing, imaging, or information providing may betaken substantially through the thickness of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing axis X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing slice, or at some anglerelative thereto. Similarly, imaging quality may diminish in certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 as the matter becomes more non-heterogeneous or dissimilaracross the thickness of the imaging X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing slice, and therefore less consistent.Such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingmay be taken in a straight, curved, complex, or some other desired orsuitable or desired contour or shape.

Certain embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be used to X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, or provide information within the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth (e.g., from a surface, or alternately spaced from the surface).The actual or maximum X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or information provided may vary between differentembodiments, and may be based on particulars of the X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing and/orthe matter undergoing X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing. Certain processor characteristics and operationsof the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 can be used to select, filter, and/or determinethe level, characteristic frequency, or other such parameters of theX-ray fluorescence range and/or the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth. Some of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can X-ray fluorescence to provide the fluorescingevent wherein the X-ray fluorescence photon or particle (e.g., X-ray orgamma ray) may X-ray fluorescence at a depth greater than the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials,included in or contained within the matter.

Based on the energy level of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120, the number of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 with the fluorescing event occurring at theX-ray fluorescence range of X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing depths greater than the set X-ray fluorescencerange to the set prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth can,for certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or imageproviding, be assumed to be ignored either computationally, beeffectively filtered out, be limited by certain weighting techniques, beremoved using image processing techniques; or even accepted by somedevice. Certain X-ray fluorescence visualizations, images, or providedinformation can be provided even by ignoring a limited percentage ofrelatively deep X-ray fluorescence. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to limit the effects of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 that are returning from the fluorescing eventoccurring through greater depths than the at least one X-rayfluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth 170. Additionally, certain of the X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing effects of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can X-rayfluorescence at the X-ray fluorescence range of the prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depths greater than some prescribedlevel. Additionally, at least some of the distorting effects can beeither ignored, filtered, and/or otherwise limited using imageprocessing techniques, deconvolution, and/or other techniques.

Another embodiment of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can control or adjust the X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing at least partially byincreasing, such as by ramping up, the energy of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. By changing the energylevel or frequency of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120, the effective prescribed X-ray fluorescence range or theprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth into the matter of theat least the portion of the individual can in certain instances bemodified (e.g., increased or decreased) and/or controlled. As such, theenergy level and/or frequency of at least some of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 that are being used toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information can betuned as to effect variation in the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing process. Such image data different depths can becomputationally combined (e.g., subtracted) using image processing,weighing, or other techniques to determine the X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing between the two(adjusted) energy levels.

The variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may be configured, used, and/or operateddifferently from each other or in different forms, and may be expectedto provide different results, visualizations, images, or information.Certain computer based embodiments, (or even human-vision embodiments)of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured in home-test form, emergency form, task-specificform, relatively low power form, or even in a form that can be usedwithout the assistance of a skilled user or another user. As such,within this disclosure, in certain instances, particularly with certainsimplified or devoted embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, certain embodiments of the term“user” can also include the individual, the individual's family orfriend's thereof, and/or care providers for the individual who canassist in operating certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider for the individual. Certainsuch home-test embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider might preferably be used for one, or a few,devoted purposes such as, but not limited to: mammograms, cancer ortumor screening, blood flow, injury, infection, tissue aberrations, drugor poison concentrations through various portions of the body, possiblebone break or tissue tear, etc., as described in this disclosure and/ordiscernible from this disclosure.

By allowing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 to utilize automation, computerizedsystems, etc., it is likely that certain elements that are indicative ofa condition (e.g., cancer, high risk of stroke or heart attack,abscesses, injuries, infections, etc.) could be automatically reviewedeven in those instances that the individual or patient is not beingvisualized, imaged, or information provided for that particular purpose.For example, consider the where a human patient is visiting a doctor fora regular check-up. A relatively quick and non-invasive scan can beperformed over at least a portion of the body by the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, and particular elementsindicative of a health risk can be automatically considered, such as abuild-up of plaque in the arteries, malignancies, poor blood or otherbodily fluid circulation, etc.

Certain computer-based or machine based embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider may prove quiteeffective at X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, informationproviding, or otherwise analyzing through particular X-ray opaque matter(perhaps at least partially utilizing deconvolution, transforms,filtering, or other such processing techniques to limit the obscuringeffects). Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to operate at asuitable frequency as to be particularly X-ray fluorescence particulartarget elements (such as calcium, iodine, or other elements) which maybe particularly correlated to a particular condition of the individual(e.g., cancer, hardening of arteries, dead or unhealthy matter,infections, injuries, abscesses, etc.). Such techniques may accomplishsuch tasks as determining existence and/or depths of cancer, tumors,bones, abscesses, or other matter within the individual, and may therebylimit, reduce, or double-check the human scanning over large regions ofthe individual has be performed. The location of certain portions ofbones, tissue, inserts, implants, etc. that are undergoing X-rayfluorescence, visualizing, or information providing could be adjustedusing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100.

Certain based embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 (some of which may rely at least partiallyon computer vision) can be configured to model certain matteraberrations within the at least the portion of the individual perhapsusing, or without, deconvolution, transform, or other such techniques.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider may prove superior to others in determining extent,dimensions, degrees, etc. of certain aberrations, such as melanomas,tumors, cancers, abscesses, bone growth, infections, injuries, etc., theX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) by using mapping techniques such as are commonly used intomography, MRI, and other conventional imaging techniques.

Within this disclosure, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can, depending on context, pertain to X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing of avolume of matter that can have an arbitrary thickness depending on thedesired X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding application, but may be considered to be three dimensional.The three dimensional volume (having some thickness) being X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided can be at leastpartially separated from an internal or external surface such asexternal skin or membrane, internal lumen, etc. that is being imagedthrough. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be positioned at regionsadjacent the surface 168 to provide some location that can be used torelatively position to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to portions of the individual. The surface168 of the individual can provide some location at which certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be angled, moved, or otherwise displaced or positionedto enhance the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding. As such, in certain instances, proximate or adjacent thesurface can provide a good location from which to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information.

As described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as at otherlocations in this disclosure, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 caninclude, but are not limited to, at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 (which may comprise an at least oneX-ray photon emitter portion as described with respect to FIG. 2) and/orat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 can be configured to emit or direct at least somethe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 towardthe at least the portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 can be adjustable, adjustably filterable, adjustably weightable,and/or controllable such as to be able to respectively control and/oradjust generation and/or direction of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 being applied to the at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual. At least some ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 maythereupon X-ray fluorescence within the fluorescing event to form theX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.), which can thereupon be received by the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain embodiments of theat least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150can be used to adjust or control the at least one X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing within the at least oneX-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Withinthis disclosure, the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 or the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122can include (e.g., comprise) a number of X-ray photons whosecharacteristic energy level and/or frequency can dictate thecharacteristics of the X-ray radiation.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can be configured to detect at least some at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 undergoing X-ray fluorescence fromthe at least the portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments ofthe at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can operatebased, at least in part, by receiving at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 from a first X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 X-ray fluorescence of fluorescingevents from the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 that were generated by a different X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 are controllable and/oradjustable such as to be able to respectively control and/or adjust thecharacteristics of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122that can be detected. Certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can include, but is not limitedto, each, or any combination of the at least one detector portion 152and/or the at least one display portion 154.

The operation of certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 may be at least partiallycontrolled or adjusted utilizing at least partially by the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97, as described in this disclosure (although certain embodimentsutilize relatively little or no control and/or adjustment). Certainembodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to the at least the portion of the individual 82 based, atleast in part, on detecting the matter of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 X-ray fluorescenced from the at least the portionof the individual.

The potential variety of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, as described in this disclosure, can indicate thevariety of potential embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that can vary in complexity fromrelatively simple probes to relatively complex systems. More complexsystems can include arrays of a considerable number of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or aconsiderable number of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151. Certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be used to determine alocation of fluorescing events based at least partially on the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 energy level and/ortrajectory of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120, as well as the location and trajectory (as can bedetermined by a polarizer, collimator, etc.) of the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon 122. In neutron, X-ray and gamma ray optics, acollimator may be considered a device that filters a stream of rays sothat only those traveling parallel to a specified direction may belargely allowed to pass through the device while those of differentdirections may be deflected, reflected, absorbed, or otherwise limitedfrom passing. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can, depending on context, befabricated using a range of devices, systems, or fabrication techniquesranging from distinct components to semiconductor processing, and mayinvolve suitable image processing, hardware, and/or software, etc. toperform suitable image deconvolution, transforms, filtering, modulation,etc.

There are a variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that are within the intended scopeby the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 beingconfigured to have at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150, as well as one or more of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain embodiments of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 may make use ofsuitable X-ray detection such as may utilize depth subtraction orcombination, time of flight, geometric determination of location of afluorescing event, and/or scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) aspects, orother techniques as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can operate with the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 emitting the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can operate along a specific direction orprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth into the at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual that can X-rayfluorescence upon the fluorescing events within the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual. Certain scintillator or otherembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize convolution or deconvolution, one or moretransforms and/or inverse transforms, and/or other techniques toincrease imaging quality of X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing, etc. through X-ray opaque or other matter.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide an image deconvolution operationthat can clarify between multiple ones of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photons and/or particles 122 (e.g., X-ray or gamma ray)traveling to the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 from a number of separated, but closely aligned, fluorescing events.

A number of X-ray photons can be expected to X-ray fluorescence withinthe at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth at least partially from the X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.). The particulars of the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth maycorrespond, at least in part, on the energy level of the X-ray photons(which corresponds to the frequency of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120). As such, a larger percentage ofX-ray photons that have more energy may travel deeper into matter ofsimilar characteristics than those X-ray photons having less energy. Assuch, the electromagnetic radiation including X-rays of certain relativelower frequencies (e.g., higher energy) may generally be expected topenetrate deeper, proportionately, through certain matter than X-rayswith relatively higher frequencies. It might be desirable to simplifythe structure and/or action of at least certain of the embodiments orapplications of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Simplification of design, construction, etc.might be desirable for such purposes as to reduce expenses, simplifyingimage processing or system computations, focusing on X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing a single or a few aberrations. Being able to detectmatter aberrations at least partially based on the elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials of the matter might therefore beparticularly useful for such applications as melanomas, tumors, cancers,abscesses, tissue edges, blood pools, blood vessels, liquids, organedges, tissue matter change delineations, etc.

Certain of such embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to image aparticular material, elements, chemicals, compounds, biologicalmaterials, fluid, fluid flow, solid, or other detectable aspect. Forinstance, certain of these embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be attached to aprobe, tool, cutter, tactile feedback provider, laser device, Bovieelectrocautery, separator, X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, etc.

Certain tool-based embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could be placed on the end of aprobe or scope that is inserted into the body for a variety of purposes.For example, as a probe or other tool passes through tissue (e.g.,brain, heart, or other organ or even flesh, muscle, etc.) an alarm thatcould include audio, video, or other media, etc. can be set off such ascan be used to notify the user that the probe is coming into closeproximity to a blood vessel, organ, bone, or other sensitive location.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be attached to or integrated within atool such as a drill (e.g., certain embodiments of such drills could beused, for example, to penetrate the pedicle of the spine, tooth by adentist, etc.). Certain tool-based or associated embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldbe configured to notify the user if the drill tip, etc. is too close toadjacent vital or sensitive structures such as a nerve root, spinalcanal, blood conduits, artery, or nerve root, etc. As such, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 may be configured to act as surgeons eyes within tissue orother obscuring matter such as tissue or other matter to limit potentialinjury or even death of the individual, or make surgeons or otherdoctors or dentists job easier and/or more effective.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be attached to an electrocauteryinstrument or other tool that will terminate current flow or providesome other limiting technique to cease effective operation of thetool/instrument when the instrument is passing relatively proximate to adefinable danger zone or other undesirable area, such as a blood vessel,nerve, vital organ structure, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that isassociated with a tool could also include an override mechanism suchthat surgeons could provide an operation (e.g., cutting, repairing,etc.) based on overriding such ceasing of the tool operation based onproximity. There are instances where doctors, surgeons, etc. may want tooperate within a sensitive area such as with an operational override,but it is important to provide an operational warning beforehand tolimit unintended and/or undesired interference with sensitive regions.

Certain tool-based embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could be configured to make certainmedical techniques, operations, or procedures perhaps easier, perhapsimproved, perhaps more easily visualized or imaged, X-ray fluorescencevisualization, perhaps with quicker feedback or response, and/or thatmight be safer. Certain surgeons operating in a manner to avoid bloodvessels, nerves, etc. (while often necessary to keep their patienthealthy and/or alive) can be slow and/or laborious in certaincircumstances, and can considerably extend the duration, extent, andrisk of operations, procedure, examinations, etc. The presence of bloodvessels, nerves, etc. in locations where surgeons may not clearly seevia their tools due to a skewing of the visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing through matter, tissue, bones, etc., can alsoresult in additional risks to the patients (e.g., individuals). Surgeonsattempting to operate too quickly or when they are tired, confused,inexperienced in a particular procedure or portion of the anatomy, etc.can risk the increased possibility of injury, or even death, to theirpatients by contacting, severing, or rupturing their blood vessels,nerves, brain tissue, or other organ and/or sensitive matter. Allowing asurgeon to detect such sensitive areas as blood vessels, nerves, spinalportions, sensitive tissue, etc. can thereby be utilized in an attemptto operate in, or around, the sensitive area or region withoutcontacting are entering the sensitive matter or region. Such allowingsurgeons to effectively determine relative locations of tools, portionsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100, etc. to sensitive matter or regions could therefore be expected toincrease the rate at which surgeons might safely be able to operatewhile safely negotiating past the sensitive matters or regions withinthe individual while limiting the number of undesired contact with suchsensitive, but detectable, matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. This increase in safe operating rate might be expected toallow the surgeons to be more alert (by limiting fatigue) whileincreasing the rate at which they can safely and accurately operate, andthereby limiting or reducing the expected associated expenses.

If more than one of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 are operating, then there should be somemechanism to limit confusion between the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 provided by each high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) as detected by certain embodiments ofthe at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Suchdifferentiation or combination of X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g.,X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) at each at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 between the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 being generated by each of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can rely on suchtechniques as described in this disclosure as, for example: altering thetransmission time, coding of the carrier signal, differentiating signalweightings, geographically situating each fluorescing event todistinguish there between, shifting frequency of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 between the differentones of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120,altering the energy levels of the photons altering the pulse durationsof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, etc.as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be configured to differentiate atleast certain ones of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120, and/or the directing at least certain ones of the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 in a differentdirection along non-interfering directions and sets of potentialfluorescing events, such that the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g.,X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) that are returning fromdifferent fluorescing events can be distinguished from each other eachother. Additionally, certain polarizers, filters, weighting techniques,louvers, or other mechanical, microelectrode mechanical systems (MEMS),electronics, electrical, electromechanical, computer-based, or othersuch systems as described, for example, as the filter, polarizer,geometic limiter, angle polarizer, or variant thereof with respect toFIGS. 5 to 12, or other locations in this disclosure, could be utilized.Such techniques similar to deconvolution, inverse transforms, timedivision multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, code divisionmultiplexing, etc. (which are known to those skilled in thecommunications arts) can also be utilized to distinguish between, orclarify, different the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 being received by different ones of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, and thereby limitinterference at the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 between multiple ones of the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g.,X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) X-ray fluorescence fromdifferent fluorescing events.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can be configuredwith the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150, as well as one or more of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 (similar to as described withregards to FIG. 5 to that illustrates only one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion). Multiple ones of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 may, or may not be,arranged in a desirable associated relative configuration, such as atleast one array, conforming to the matter, etc. Certain embodiments ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 can be configured to emit the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 (as well as the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122) in a manner that can be differentiated fromother ones (as well as other at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122) based at least partially on deconvolution, transforms, timemultiplexing, frequency multiplexing, code division multiplexing,directing of a variety of devices that can emit X-ray radiation in avariety of patterns such as pencil radiation, fan radiation, etc. to adesired location, and/or other such fluorescing event differentiatingtechniques, use of collimators, lenses, filters, etc. For example,certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can emit their the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 at different deconvolution ortransform characteristics at different times, having differentfrequencies, with different weightings, or based on different codingalgorithms such as is generally understood with a variety ofmultiplexing techniques.

Certain such embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may be utilized as a X-ray fluorescencevisualizer having limited resolution; and may provide especially usefulin conjunction with a tool as to provide X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing for blood vessel andother sensitive area avoidance, as well as cancer, abscesses,infections, or other matter aberration detection to X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing as described in thisdisclosure. Abscesses or infections are highly dangerous, and may bequite difficult, dangerous, or expensive to detect with any reasonablecertainty. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be able to scan for regions ofabscesses, infections, etc. that may be based at least partially on thedensity, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter indicative of the abscess,infection, etc.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can include a variety of detectors that can include, butare not limited to, a streak camera, a pixilated streak camera, anavalanche detector, a CCD device, or other device that can detect thepresence, energy level, and/or condition of X-ray fluorescence highenergy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.), preferably at asuitable rate to provide the desired resolution. Certain embodiments ofthe streak camera and/or the pixilated streak camera might be configuredto act quite quickly, and can function in the low or fractionalpicosecond range, such as may be particularly useful for time of flightcalculations or other similarly precise or suitable applications.

Certain embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include one or more collimated (e.g.,“pencil”, “fan”, or other) radiation of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120, as illustrated in FIG. 5 or 6.Certain embodiments of the high energy photon or particle radiations 120can scan the at least the portion of the individual in two directionswhile the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 canmeasure the X-ray fluorescences resulting from the interactions of thehigh energy photons and/or particles (e.g., X-rays) with the bodilytissues. A variety of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing and/orimaging information, particular to a given 3-D voxel within the displayof the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, can bederived using the two-dimensionally scanned X-ray radiation, which canbe detected in several ways as described herein.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize time-resolved detection of the atleast one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122. Here, thetime-of-return, Δt, of each X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray,gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) from a fluorescing eventcorresponding uniquely to a position, x, along the illuminatingcollimated X-ray radiation, such that:x=A*Δt+B  (1)

where A and B are proportionality constants that may be determined bythe relative location of the illuminating X-ray radiation and the X-raydetector, as described in this disclosure. There can be a sufficienttemporal pause (or other time, spatial, or coding technique understoodby those skilled in multiplexing) between illumination by the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 at specific2-D ray angles to limit fluorescing signal confusion between the atleast one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 as received at the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Conventional andmodified computation and processing techniques, based on triangulationof the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122, can result inmore precise or higher quality X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,or information providing. If determined to be significant, the effectsof one or more elements present in the background of certain field ofviews (as to not interfere with the desired effects of the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122) can be reduced by adding energydiscrimination to the detector, since each fluorescing event results ina reduction in energy levels of the photon or particle during theconversion from the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 to the at least one X-ray fluorescing photon and/orparticle 122. For example, energy of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 lost by the moving X-ray photonparticle during collisions with other moving particles such as targetatoms forming the matter of the at least the portion of the individual,that can be described based on X-ray fluorescence equations, heat, aswell as other geometric or other equations, as described in thisdisclosure or elsewhere but generally known.

By scanning the body repeatedly using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 in one,two, or three (e.g., orthogonal) directions, but at varying energies sothat the radiation penetrates progressively more or less deeply sofluorescing events can occur up to a progressively respectively deeper,or shallower, prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth.Thereupon, a model (which may be three or two dimensional) of thesubcutaneous bodily structures can be progressively combined and/orrefined by comparing it to the time-integrated models. As such, certainembodiments of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 canbe obtained from each illuminating particle radiation angle and thenperforming a de-convolution similar to those used in conventionaltomography imaging. In addition to helping provide depth discrimination,such progressive illumination at different energies can revealdifferences in the absorption and/or X-ray fluorescence characteristicsof various fluorescing events occurring in particular matter. The valueof the X-ray fluorescence characteristics of the X-ray fluorescing eventcan be an enhanced or diminished, in certain instances, by addingcontrast agent, etc., such as to increase the contrast of the resultingimage. In certain instances, the energy level of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can be increased,decreased, controlled, ramped, and/or otherwise altered (preferably in agradual and/or predictable manner as described elsewhere in thisdisclosure, such that changes in the energy level will have littleeffect on imaging distortion) such as to allow adjustability or controlof the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providingby certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at leastpartially by employing a nearly monochromatic illuminating X-ray“pencil” radiation, flooding radiation, fan-radiation, scanningradiation, or other ones of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150. The location of the fluorescing eventsalong one or more of the radiation of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 (in which, in certain instances,multiple ones thereof can be intersected to increase, the intensity)where the X-ray photon of the X-ray fluorescence can be determined ordetected based on the value of its characteristic energy level (as maybe partially indicated by its wavelength, Δλ). For the usual case of thefluorescing events for each once-high energy photon, the change inwavelength of the X-ray photon upon X-ray fluorescence is given by thePlanck's Law. Planck's Law may be characterized as the energy ofelectromagnetic waves is contained in an indivisible quanta that may beradiated or absorbed as a whole. The magnitude of the energy of theelectromagnetic waves is proportional to the frequency and/orwavelength.

Planck's law (which may be modeled using physics as electromagneticradiation of a black body) describes the spectral radiance ofelectromagnetic radiation at all wavelengths from a black body attemperature T. As a function of frequency v, Planck's law is written as:

$\begin{matrix}{{I\left( {v,T} \right)} = {\frac{2{hv}^{3}}{c^{2}}\frac{1}{{\mathbb{e}}^{\frac{hv}{kT}} - 1}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

Planck's law may be written as a function of wavelength λ:

$\begin{matrix}{{I\left( {\lambda,T} \right)} = {\frac{2{hc}^{2}}{\lambda^{5}}\frac{1}{{\mathbb{e}}^{\frac{hc}{\lambda\;{kT}}} - 1}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

The functions of equations (2) and (3) have different units. Equations(2) is given in is radiance per unit frequency, while equations (3) isgiven in radiance per unit wavelength. Hence, the quantities I(v,T) andI(λ,T) are not equivalent to each other, but correspond to each other.To derive one from the other, they cannot simply be set equal to eachother. However, equations (2) and (3) may be related through:I(v,T)dv=I(λ,T)dλ  (4)

In which, I is the spectral radiance or energy per unit time per unitsurface area per unit solid angle per unit frequency or wavelength (asspecified). Also, v is the frequency of the high energy photon (e.g.,X-ray). Additionally, λ is the wavelength of each of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. T is the temperature ofthe black body encompassing the high energy photon. Also, h=Planck'sConstant, in Joule's per second. Additionally, c is the speed of light.Additionally, e is the base of the natural logarithm, 2.718281 . . . .Finally, k=Boltzmann's constant.

The X-ray fluorescence processes of the at least one target atom orfluorophore 121 may be viewed as being governed by three events:excitation, vibrational relaxation, and emission, as described in thisdisclosure. The excitation process of the at least one target atom orfluorophore 121 can be characterized as:S ₀ +hv→S _(1,)  (5)

in which hv is a generic term for photon energy where: h=Planck'sconstant and v=frequency of photons (e.g., often within the X-ray orgamma frequencies), and the state S₀ is the ground state of the at leastone target atom or fluorophore 121. The specific frequencies of excitingand emitted photons may be dependent on the particular system. Theemission process can be characterized as:S ₁ →S ₀ +hv,  (6)

where S₁ is the first (electronically) excited state of the at least onetarget atom or fluorophore 121. A molecule such as may include the atleast one target atom or fluorophore 121 may be at one time configuredin its excited state, S₁, and can thereupon relax by various pathways.The at least one target atom or fluorophore 121 can undergo‘non-radiative relaxation’ in which the excitation energy is dissipatedas heat (vibrations). Excited ones of the at least one target atom orfluorophore 121 can also relax via conversion to a state which maysubsequently relax via phosphorescence or by a secondary non-radiativerelaxation step. Relaxation of the at least one target atom orfluorophore 121 in its S₁ state can also occur through interaction witha second molecule through X-ray fluorescence quenching. Certain of thetarget atoms and/or fluorophores 121 that are excited throughapplication of X-ray photons can transfer energy to a second one of thetarget atom and/or fluorophore 121, which is converted to its excitedstate and can then fluoresce.

The X-ray fluorescence quantum yield gives the efficiency of the X-rayfluorescence process. The X-ray fluorescence quantum yield may beviewed, depending on context, as the ratio of the number of photonsemitted to the number of photons absorbed.

$\begin{matrix}{\Phi = \frac{\#\mspace{14mu}{photons}\mspace{11mu}{emitted}}{\#\mspace{14mu}{photons}\mspace{14mu}{absorbed}}} & (7)\end{matrix}$

The maximum X-ray fluorescence quantum yield is 1, indicating everyphoton absorbed results in a photon emitted. Another way to define thequantum yield of X-ray fluorescence, is by the rates excited statedecay:

$\begin{matrix}{\Phi = \frac{k_{f}}{\sum\limits_{i}k_{i}}} & (8)\end{matrix}$

where k_(f) is the rate of spontaneous emission of radiation of the atleast one target atom or fluorophore 121; and Σ_(i)k_(i) is the sum ofall rates of excited state decay of the at least one target atom orfluorophore 121. Other rates of excited state decay of the at least onetarget atom or fluorophore 121 by mechanisms other than photon emissionand are therefore often considered as “non-radiative rates”. X-rayfluorescence quantum yield may be measured by comparison to a standardwith known quantum yield. The X-ray fluorescence lifetime refers to thetime the molecule stays in its excited state before emitting a photon.X-ray fluorescence typically follows the first-order kinetics equation:[S ₁ ]=[S ₁]₀ e ^(−t/τ),  (9)

where [S₁] is the remaining concentration of the at least one targetatom or fluorophore 121 in their excited state molecules at time t, and[S₁]₀ is the initial concentration after excitation. Equations (9)represents an instance of exponential decay of the of the at least onetarget atom or fluorophore 121. The lifetime of the at least one targetatom or fluorophore 121 is related to the rates of excited state decayas:

$\begin{matrix}{\tau = {\frac{1}{\sum\limits_{i}k_{i}}.}} & (10)\end{matrix}$

Thus, equations (10) is similar to a first-order reaction in which thefirst-order rate constant may be considered as the sum of all of therates (a parallel kinetic model). Thus, the lifetime may be related tothe facility of the relaxation pathway. If the rate of spontaneousemission, or other rates, are relatively fast, and the lifetime isinversely short (for commonly used X-ray fluorescence compounds typicalexcited state decay times for X-ray fluorescence compounds that emitphotons with energies from the X-rays range. The X-ray fluorescencelifetime is an important parameter for practical applications of X-rayfluorescence such as X-ray fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

If necessary, time resolution, directional resolution, deconvolution, orother such image combination techniques can be added to at least certainof the approaches, as described in this disclosure, to assist insuppressing background noise, interfering signals, or other distortedaffects from the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 beingemitted from fluorescing events. Such image combination techniques caninclude, but are not limited to, image subtraction, imagedifferentiation, image transformation, deconvolution, weightedsubtraction, functional subtraction, and group including inverseintegral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform, inversefunctional transform, and subtractive inverse functional transform, orother image processing techniques.

A number of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are described, which can be configured todetermine the location of X-ray fluorescence at least partially based ona geometric determination of a location of the at least one fluorescingevent. Such geometric determination of a location of the at least onefluorescing event may provide information representative of somecharacteristics of the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray,gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) being received at the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. FIGS. 5 to 12 illustrate anumber of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be used in combination for geometric determination of alocation of the at least one fluorescing event using trigonometry orgeometric techniques.

The FIGS. 5 to 12 embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured with the at leastone high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, and an at leastone receiver X-ray fluorescence angular limiting portion 172 and/or 192.Certain embodiments of the at least one receiver X-ray fluorescenceangular limiting portion 172 and/or 192 can be configured to includegeometric angular X-ray limiting elements 172 and/or 192 as describedwith respect to FIGS. 7 to 12 that can limit passage of the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 that passes to the X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 to a particular angle. Forinstance, the embodiment of the at least one receiver X-ray fluorescenceangular limiting portion 172 and/or 192 may include angular limitingelements 172 and/or 192 that can be angled at a relatively high angle θ₁to pass to the X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 (as comparedwith the angular limiting elements 172 and/or 192 that are angled at arelatively shallow angle θ₂ as described with respect to FIG. 8).Examples of angular limiting elements 172 and/or 192 that may be used incertain embodiments of the at least one receiver X-ray fluorescenceangular limiting portion 172 and/or 192 as described with respect toFIGS. 7 to 12, or at other locations through the disclosure can include,but are not limited to, mechanical louvres elements, polarizers, X-rayfilters, certain MEMs X-ray passage limiting elements, piezoelectricelements, angular collimators, beamformers, etc. In addition, certainembodiments of the at least one receiver X-ray fluorescence angularlimiting portion 172 and/or 192 can be angled or controlled, as toprovide similar control and/or angling of the associated angularlimiting elements 172 and/or 192.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of two or more receiver X-rayfluorescence angular limiting portions 172 and/or 192 that interact(e.g., can be moved vertically as shown in the figure relative to eachother) to limit passage of those induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122that passes to the X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 to aparticular angle. Each of the two or more receiver X-ray fluorescenceangular limiting portions 172 and/or 192 can independently allow forX-rays to pass through a variety of angles, however, by being positionedin close proximity with each other, X-rays are limited to pass only atparticular angle(s) θ₃ Certain embodiments of the angular limitingelements of the two or more receiver X-ray fluorescence angular limitingportions 172 and/or 192 as described with respect to FIG. 10 mayinclude, but are not limited to, slit collimators, etc. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to allow relative motion between the twoor more receiver X-ray fluorescence angular limiting portions 172 and/or192 in such as manner as to allow relative adjustment and/or control ofthe angle(s) θ₃ which the two or more receiver X-ray fluorescenceangular limiting portions 172 and/or 192 can allow light to pass, asindicated by the arrows in FIG. 10. The various embodiments of the atleast one receiver X-ray fluorescence angular limiting portion and/orthe angular limiting elements as described with respect to FIGS. 5 to 12are intended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting in scope, andmay include those known devices that allow particular X-ray photons,etc. to pass as limited within particular angle(s).

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can be configured with at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, as well as the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. The at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, as described withrespect to FIGS. 5 to 12 as well as other locations in this disclosure,can be configured to provide a variety of X-rays including, but notlimited to those, arranged from pencil radiation emitter, a fan emitter,a flooding emitter, or other emitter that can controllably direct the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 as desired ordesigned in a particular path or direction and/or we associated X-rayphotons having a particular energy level. For example, if there are anumber of the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150, then each one may be configured or designed to emit theX-rays along a controllable direction, time, angle, depth, etc. such asto not interfere with others.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured and/or designed such that theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 of FIGS. 5to 12 can be directed along a path, that extends substantiallycontinuously in a prescribed direction. While FIGS. 5 to 12 illustratethe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 having atrajectory at some angle across the surface into the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual. Some other trajectory angle can beprovided with the surface as well, and still comply with fluorescingequations as described in this disclosure, such as with respect to FIG.3 and at other locations. At least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportions 151 (illustrated respectively in FIGS. 5 to 12 as an array ofreceiving assemblies) can be configured to receive X-rays directed at anangle, and thereby receive only photons traveling substantially in adirection substantially corresponding to the angle, relative to the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120. The at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can thereby beconfigured to receive a variety of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 that can travel along a number of paths 122′,122″, etc. that X-ray fluorescence at a variety of illustrativelocations 152′, 152″, etc. which can be somewhat limited for allowingonly electromagnetic radiation (e.g., X-rays, etc.) from within aprescribed range of angles to pass.

As such, FIG. 7 illustrates that the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon traveling along path 122′, that is within a range ofangles as indicted by θ_(1.) will pass through the filter, polarizer,geometic limiter, or angle polarizer 192. Additionally, FIG. 8 indicatesthat the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 travelingalong path 122″ that is within a range of angles as indicted by θ₂ willpass through the at least one filter, polarizer, geometic limiter, orangle polarizer 192. As such, photons that have fluoresced at a specificangle from a fluorescing event situated along the path of the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 will be allowed topass through the at least one filter, polarizer, geometic limiter, orangle polarizer 192. The location of each fluorescing events 152′, 152″can be situated along the path of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120, can be determined based, at least in part,on X-ray fluorescence angle, θ₁ and θ₂, etc. of the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon 122 that can travel along path(s) 122′ of FIG.7 and path(s) 122″ of FIG. 8 being received at the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, such as which can be limited tooperating at only certain angles, such as by using a collimator 172 thatmay be configured as the at least one filter, polarizer, geometiclimiter, or angle polarizer 192.

FIG. 9 indicates that two or more of the filter, polarizer, geometiclimiter, or angle polarizer 192 can be arranged across an array of theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 to allowdetection of X-rays traveling at various angles. For instance, multipleangle polarizers 192 a, 192 b, 192 c, 192 d, 192 e, 192 f, 192 g, and/or192 h can be arranged across the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151, each of which may be set at a different or thesame angle to thereby act as an individual collimator 172. While certainof the multiple angle polarizers 192 a, 192 b, 192 c, 192 d, 192 e, 192f, 192 g, and/or 192 h are illustrated relative to FIG. 9 as beingspread over an area, it is to be understood that the multiple anglepolarizers can be made of many various configurations and/or dimensions.Certain embodiments of the multiple angle polarizers 192 a, 192 b, 192c, 192 d, 192 e, 192 f, 192 g, and/or 192 h can be fabricated to bequite small using a variety of semiconductor processing techniques, etc.Certain of the multiple angle polarizers 192 a, 192 b, 192 c, 192 d, 192e, 192 f, 192 g, and/or 192 h may thereby allow the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon 122 to pass to the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 that is traveling at differenttrajectory angles.

Certain embodiments of the slit collimator 172 can be arranged with avariety of members that are relatively moveable, such as to control thedirection received. Other X-ray receiving mechanisms as polarizers,filters, processors, software, etc. could be used as certain embodimentsof the slit collimator 172. Various embodiments of various computations,certain ones as described in this disclosure, can be used to locate theposition of the fluorescing events 152′, 152″, etc., as described withrespect to FIGS. 7 to 12, can be derived based at least in part ondeconvolution, transforms, etc. to provide geometric X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing techniques, etc. Anumber of one, two, or three-dimensional arrays of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be arranged to about theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, in a mannerto enhance the determination of the position of the fluorescing events152′, 152″. Such determination can be based at least in part on thelocation of the multiple received arrays of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.

The embodiment of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151, as described with respect to FIGS. 7 to 12 can be usedto derive at least one position of the fluorescing event 152 in whichthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120fluoresces such as by contact, or traveling close to: atoms, electrons,neutrons, or other such matter. The embodiment of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 as described withrespect to FIG. 11 can be similar, or identical, to those embodiments asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1 or 2, as well as other locations inthis disclosure. Certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, as described with respect to FIG.C11, can include a slit collimator 172 or other such device that canlimit the angle at which X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray,gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) can reach the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain embodiments of thecollimator can also be configured as a lens, filter, collimator, orother device that can be used to limit passage of the X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) to the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 to only within arange of degrees, etc. Certain embodiments of the slit collimator, lens,filter, etc. could be provided between the path of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120′ and the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Those X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) beingapplied from the position of the fluorescing event of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 may only be detected ifflowing in a direction substantially aligned with the slits of the slitcollimator. The structure and use of slit collimators, lenses, filters,etc. are generally understood by those skilled in the X-ray, optics,electromagnetics, and other similar areas; and will not be furtherdescribed in this disclosure. Alternate types of collimators, lenses,filters, etc. that can limit the passage of the X-ray fluorescence highenergy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) to those withinan angular range such as to detect fluorescing events within thatangular range may also be utilized. The angular orientation of the slitcollimator can be angled, such as to change the angle of the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 being received.

One slit is shown in the slit collimator 172 as illustrated in FIG. 11.One or more of the slits of the slit collimator 172 can be arranged,such as to be aligned to allow passage of the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 at certain angles relative to a particularelement of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.While a single slit collimator is described with respect to FIG. 11, itis to be understood that multiple slit collimators can be respectivelyassociated with at least one unit of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151. In addition, utilizing one or more of avariety of technologies that are generally understood, the X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) can be steered, beamformed, or otherwise directed in a manner asdesired or appropriate. By using the embodiment of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 as described with respect toFIG. 11, location of one or more fluorescing events occurring along onemore the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 canbe determined.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 12, can beconfigured such that the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can be steered or directed in a plane perpendicular tothat of the which the X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly can sensethe position of the fluorescing event. For example, the paths of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, as shown inFIGS. 3, 5-11, etc. the path of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 may at least partially extend substantiallywithin the plane of the paper in those figures. Certain ones of thefluorescing event detection, imaging, X-ray fluorescence visualizing,and/or information providing mechanisms, as described above, may utilizesuch exemplary mechanisms to determine the position of the fluorescingevent as: subtraction or combination, deconvolution, transforms, time offlight, X-ray fluorescence angle, loss of energy level of the X-rayfluorescence X-ray photons, geometric X-ray fluorescence computation,collimator, other derivatives, etc., and other locations through thisdisclosure. Each at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151, as described with respect to FIG. 10, can include a scanning shieldportion 178, which can be configured to limit photons (e.g., X-rays orgamma ray wavelengths) passing to that within certain angular ranges.More specifically, provided that there are an array, or a number of, theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, then thescanning shield portion 178 can limit passage of only one or a number ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 at anyone time period. Certain embodiments of the scanning shield portion 178and/or the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 can be dynamic, such as being positionable atcontrollable angles and/or rotatable such as may provide forpositionable control and/or scan; or alternately limit passage of onlyone or certain of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 continuously if the scanning shield portion 178 and the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 arefixed or static.

As such, certain embodiments of the at least one slit collimator 172, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 11, can be viewed as limiting theangle(s) from horizontal of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 fluorescing from the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120, and passing to the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 (e.g., in a directional substantially parallelto an axial direction of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 as illustrated, or at another orientation). Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the scanning shield portion 178, asdescribed with respect to FIG. C12, can be viewed as limiting the angle(within the plane of the paper) at which the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 which X-ray fluorescence from the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120, and passing to the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, in a directionalsubstantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. Both the scanning shieldportion 178 as described with respect to FIG. 12, and the slitcollimator 172 as described with respect to FIG. 11, can thereby beviewed as embodiments of collimators, since they both limit passage ofthe X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) from fluorescing events that are situated within anangular range to the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151. In addition, the material forming the housing material(as compared to the slits which may be air, or some X-ray transmissivematerial) of the scanning shield portion 178 and the slit collimator 172should limit passage of X-rays there through, such as to limit screenedX-rays from being applied to the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151.

Within this disclosure, both the scanning shield portion 178 and theslit collimator 172 are intended to be illustrative in nature, but notlimiting in scope. Certain processes as performed by either the scanningshield portion 178 and/or the slit collimator 172 could also beconfigured as a lens, a filter, a beamformer, or other electromagnetic,mechanical, electronic, or X-ray type mechanism, etc. As such, certainembodiments of the scanning shield portion 178 could limit passage ofthe X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) being applied to the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 to within a range of angles, etc.

A number of filters, collimators, angular polarizers, and/or otherdevices can thereby be configured to limit passage of at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 that enter the X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 to within particular angles, from particulardirections, etc. It is thereby envisioned that collimators, filters, andother such devices can limit the angle of the applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 that are being applied to the at least the portionof the individual 82 to within particular angular ranges.

It is generally understood that with certain electromagnetic, optical,and/or X-ray technologies, certain operations can be performed utilizingtwo or more devices and/or their associated technique(s). Such devices,or techniques, may be viewed as equivalents, each of which is able toperform a similar function, operation, or technique. As such, certainembodiments of the collimator 172, scanning shield portion 178, etc. canbe performed either by the device as described herein, or othergenerally known electromagnetic, optical, or X-ray equivalent devicesand/or modifications thereof. Such generally equivalent devices areknown by those skilled in the art can be utilized, and are intended toremain within the scope of the present disclosure.

This disclosure thereby illustrates a number of exemplary mechanisms(and associated techniques of certain embodiments of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151) which can geometrically,computationally, or otherwise derive position of the fluorescing eventswithin some matter. Such deriving the positions of the fluorescingevents can be based at least in part on characteristics of at least someat least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 (while assuming astatic or predictable at least one applied high energy photon).

FIGS. 15 and/or 16 illustrate an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can be used, forexample, in spatially confined imaging utilizing the output from thefluorescing event 152. Certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 are X-ray associated with acollimator 172 or 178, as described with respect to FIG. 11 or 12, or atother locations, in this disclosure. As such, certain embodiments of theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 will only beable to detect X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray,photon, particle, etc.) X-ray fluorescence from fluorescing events 152may occur within a spatially confined region. As such, certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 can be configured as pencil radiation, fanradiation, flooding radiation, or as having other radiationconfigurations. However, each the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 provided by the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 could be directed withinthe spatially confined imaging region (of the fluorescing event) such asto illuminate that region sufficiently such that the X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) can bedetected by the associated at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151.

For the combination of any of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 and any of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 as described in this disclosure, avariety of X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray,photon, particle, etc.), at least one applied high energy photon,matter, and other parameters can be determined that can be stored in adatabase, etc., and thereupon be used to derive the location of theposition of the fluorescing events 152′, and/or 152″, etc. along the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 along path 120′as described with respect to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and/or 12 utilizing knowngeometric, material, X-ray, and other techniques and/or calculations.Since certain of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 can be applied intermittently at certain ones of theposition of the fluorescing events 152′, 152″, etc.; the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing parametersat the various positions of the fluorescing events can be intermittentlyobtained. As the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 X-ray fluorescence at each position of the fluorescing event basedon X-ray fluorescence, the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing parameters of each position of the fluorescingevent 152′, and/or 152″, such as can be used to image there from, andcan be determined.

Certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding techniques can rely on generation of image information orX-ray fluorescence visualization information that can represent data orother form of information. Such data, text, information, etc. can bestored or maintained in a database storage, processed using understoodimage processing techniques, etc., such as described with respect tocertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 as described with respect to FIGS. 1and 2, as well as other locations through this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information at least partially by making 2-D or 3-D scans fromdifferent “vantage points” (which for example receives the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 outside the body), detecting thetime-integrated X-ray return signal from each 2-D or 3-DX-ray/vantage-point combination. A variety of 2-D or 3-D scans can becombined, as may be the case with a variety of tomography-likereconstructions of such as depth-related 3-D structures that may betaken at a number of angles, as described with respect to FIGS. 17 a, 17b, and 18. Such tompographic-type reconstructions can differentiatematter based, at least partially, on the element composition (and/orchemical composition, compound composition, or biological materialcomposition with the addition of X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives,taggants, or contrast agents, etc.) of the at least some matter of theat least the portion of the individual.

FIGS. 17 a and 17 b illustrate a number of vantage views by the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 of one embodiment of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,which can be displaced to adjust and/or control an imaging perspectiveby which the angle of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 changes from the various paths 122 a, 122 b, 122 c. The displacementof the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 is asindicated by an arrow 127, can be used to image the portion of theindividual. During the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, and/orinformation providing, as described with respect to FIG. 17 a, a varietyof image information (similar in certain ways to conventionaltomographic imaging or volumetric imaging techniques) can be derived.However, there can also be a considerable amount of information that canbe determined based upon the X-ray fluorescence of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 from a certain direction,or a limited range of directions. For example, a depth of the tissueaberration (or other tomography-type feature) 128 is largely uncertainduring the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding as described with respect to FIG. 17 a as a result of therelative direction in which the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 receives the X-ray fluorescence high energy(e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.). Such depth-informationof matter abberations can be provided or enhanced using certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 considering element composition (and/or chemicalcomposition, compound composition, or biological material compositionwith the addition of X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants,or contrast agents, etc.) of the at least some matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual.

As the angle of the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gammaray, photon, particle, etc.) continues to increases through an angle, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 17 b as along paths 122 d, 122 e, and 122f, the depth determination or extent of the feature 128 (usingvolumetric, tomographic, or other such techniques) can be modified asthe angle of the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray,photon, particle, etc.) continued to change (in this instanceincreases). As such, the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depthcan be more readily and accurately be determined based at leastpartially on the angle of the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g.,X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) increasing its angle from anormal to a surface being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orinformation provided. Such fluorescence X-ray visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing may be based at least partially on the density,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. Such dimensions, extents, etc. of thefeatures can be determined to more fully and accurately map the X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or provided information relative tothe matter of the at least a portion of the individual, such as: tissue,tissue aberrations, organs, edge features, bones, constructs, inserts,bony portions, fluid or blood vessels, reservoirs, pooling, etc. thatmay be based at least partially on the density, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials, included in or contained withinthe matter. Such blood pooling may be useful is considering certaininjuries, certain infections, explosion injuries, gunshot wounds, etc.

While the imaging perspective described with respect to FIGS. 17 a and17 b can be used to adjust or control the angle of the X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) relative to matter of the least to portion of the individual,there can be a variety of other imaging perspectives that can besimilarly adjusted, controlled, and/or otherwise utilized. For instance,the at least the portion of the individual could be moved relative tothe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/orthe X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.). As the field of view of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information provided is zoomed, focused,filtered, transformed, or otherwise modified to provide other “new” or“modified” (e.g., and/or adjusted or controlled) information, such newor modified information can be added to the enhanced model, X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or information; such new or modifiedinformation can be compared with the original information to improve oralter accuracy or detail of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, image,or information. The techniques used for adjustment and/or control of theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing,certain ones of which are described relative to FIGS. 47 through 50 asdescribed in this disclosure, can be used to improve a quality of X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information provided based on avariety of vantage points, and can be utilized for tomography orvolumetric-type imaging.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be configured to provide tomographyX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing. Thetomography provided would be expected to be similar to the tomographyprovided by other imaging modalities such as CAT scans, PET scans, andMRI, with the exception that certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider would imagematter to the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Otherembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, by comparison, would be expected to image through thematter of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual that may be based at least partially on the density,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials, included inor contained within the matter. Additionally, the embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 cangenerally utilize X-ray fluorescence, as compared to transmissive X-raysas with CAT scans, transmissive positrons as with PET scans, andmagnetic fields as with MRI. Each visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding modality might therefore be expected to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, of provide information somewhat differently withpotentially different output (such as with or without the use ofadditives, contrast agents, etc.) that may be based at least partiallyon the density, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter.

FIG. 18 show a flowchart 1300 of one embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can beconfigured to provide X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, orinformation in a manner that includes illustrative, but not limiting,processes 1302, 1304, 1306, and/or 1308. Process 1302 can include, butis not limited to, X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing, and thereby deriving at least a first set ofX-ray fluorescence visualizations, images, or information. For example,certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or provided information(e.g., relatively crude or more refined in various embodiments) can beobtained using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described in this disclosure.Process 1304 can include, but is not limited to, controlling oradjusting the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 such as to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or obtain“varied” or “additional” information. Certain of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can be controlledor adjusted to vary the angle or other aspect by which the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 is applied to and/orreceived from the at least the portion of the individual beingvisualized, imaged, or information provided. Process 1306 can include,but is not limited to, operating the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 to capture, or otherwise obtain, thenew information, such as to allow imaging from a modified angle orvantage point. Process 1308 can include, but is not limited to,obtaining a more detailed or final X-ray fluorescence visualization,image, or information such as by geometrically, tomographically orvolumetrically integrating the additional information. As such, viewingcertain regions from different perspectives, such as to limit unknownsand uncertainties in the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orprovided information as the tomogreaphic-type embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 change someaspect (e.g., energy level, direction, X-ray fluorescence range,prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth, etc) in a manner as toimprove the quality of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing.

Certain scintillation, time of flight, energy loss, and imagecombination type embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can generally provide their qualityX-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or provided information basedon processing of each interaction of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and its associated at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. By comparison, certaintomographic or volumetric embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can have a considerablenumber of unknowns following each interaction of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and its associatedat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, wherein suchunknowns are generally reduced or limited using tomographic orvolumetric techniques, in a similar manner as with conventionaltomography, as generally understood in the medical imaging technologies.Such scintillators can produce at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 that can allow certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, image, or provided information to be viewed directly by auser (such as a doctor, veterninarian, medical assistant, theindividual, etc.), or alternately the at least one induced X-rayfluorescing photon 122 may undergo processing, filtering, etc. that canenhance or transform the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon122 to make the X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or providedinformation visible or enhanced to the user.

Certain tomography or volumetric aspects of certain embodiments (oroutput) of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can therefore be quite similar in processingcharacteristics to those of conventional tomography imagers, such asconventional CAT scans, conventional PET scans, etc. (such that they canresult from generating a number of two-dimensional X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing slices). The X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing slices areoften, but not necessarily, planar. The X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing slices can thereupon be combined toallow information of any three-dimensional volumetric and/or tomographicimage in a similar manner as with conventional CAT scans, MRIs, etc.Depending upon the desired configuration, a variety of shapes, X-rayfluorescence, or other configurations of X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing slices can be generated. Within thisdisclosure, volumetric imaging may, depending upon context, beconsidered as including tomography. A description of conventionaltomography or volumetric imaging devices, etc., such as may be utilizedfor conventional medical X-ray imaging or information providing, aredescribed, for example, in “The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging,Second Edition”, J. T. Bushburg, et al., Lippincott Williams andWilkins, 2002 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Suchconventional tomography devices are commercially available and is, assuch, not described in greater detail.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may rely upon the adjustment and/or control toaffect imaging of new matter of new directions, locations, positions,energy levels, etc. that may be based at least partially on the density,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. Such adjustment or control may be usefulfor tomography-type X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing that may be based at least partially on thedensity, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Certain embodiments of thedeconvolution and/or tomography processes necessary to perform suchoperations may be, in certain aspects, computationally similar to thoseused in normal X-ray CT scans. However, with the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, X-ray fluorescenceX-rays instead of transmitted X-rays, etc. may be detected (instead ofthe X-rays being transmitted through the individual as is the case withconventional CT scans as compared with X-rays undergoing X-rayfluorescence as described in this disclosure).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information at least partially by use of an angle-collimatedX-ray detector such that the intersection of the illuminating radiationand detector sensitivity direction can define an operational 3-D voxelas described with respect to FIGS. 7 to 12, and other locations. Suchangle-collimated X-ray detectors can be used to derive X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providinginformation in the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information at least partially by combinations of theembodiments described elsewhere in this disclosure, that allows X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing at higherresolution and/or higher contrast information from the subcutaneousbodily structures.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can control the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth to which it can image based, at least in part, onphotons energy level of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 as applied to the matter of the at least the portionof the individual. The greater the energy level of the photons of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 (andcorrespondingly the lesser the frequency of the photons of the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120), generally thegreater depth a larger percentage of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 can travel into the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual, undergo X-ray fluorescence, andreturn to effect X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing. As such, generally, a larger number of, orpercentage of, X-ray photons having greater energy levels (and thereforecorrespondingly lower frequencies) can generally X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or information provide down to a greater at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth than X-ray photons having a generally lowerenergy level (and correspondingly higher frequencies). Thisgeneralization assumes consistency of such factors as angle or positionof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120,materials being imaged, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 19, can facilitateX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of aregion of the fluorescing events extending from at least a surface 168.A matter aberration 360 can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orinformation provided such as can be provided or enhanced based at leastpartially on the elemental composition (or chemical composition,compound composition, or the biological material composition with theuse of X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrastagents, etc.).

These embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 might be particularly useful for X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing for the atleast the portion of the individual near the surface 168 of theindividual (the surface may be underneath and at least partiallyinternal surface or at least partially external surface). For example,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, that can image from a surface to within the atleast one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth, may be suitable for such X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing evenwithout complex image processing that may be based at least partially onthe density, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Such prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depths may not interfere with each other provided arelatively homogeneous material across the X-ray fluorescence range. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, or information provide one and relatively non-homogeneousmaterial across the at least one X-ray fluorescence range providedsuitable processing capability.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, orprovide information relating to at least partially internal and/or atleast partially external matter of the at least the portion of theindividual utilizing a variety of X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing techniques. Such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can be configured toprovide for, for example: examinations, testing of cancer, sicknesses,injuries, tissue aberrations, abscesses, infections, etc. (such cancersand/or tumors can include, but are not limited to, breast cancer, lungcancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, etc.); as wellas both internal or external X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing aberrations of certain matter of the at least theportion of the individual (such as tissue, bone, dental, etc. or acombination); X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding lumen matter and matter examinations; X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing edges, discontinuities,or matter inconsistencies or aberrations of organs, tissue, or othermatter; X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationallowing a variety of heart examination and/or treatments, heart valvestructure, operation examination and/or treatments, brain examinationand/or treatment, lung examination, liver examination, other organ,matter, or tissue examination and/or treatments etc. Within thisdisclosure, the term “depth” X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing can include, but is not limited to, X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingthrough at least one volume of matter situated beneath the surface 168of the at least the portion of the individual, perhaps including imagingthrough the surface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to detect specific elements,or sets, combinations, alloys, and/or mixtures of specific elements thatmay be based at least partially on the elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials included in or contained within the matter.Such detection may, e.g., be used to obtain signatures of pathologicalstate or tissue identity. Such techniques may be used for screeningpersons for specific illnesses, infections, conditions, injuries,exposures, etc. While iron, titanium, magnesium, calcium, and otherelements are mentioned in this disclosure as examples of elements thatmay be included in matter which can be used to enhance X-rayfluorescence visualizations, imaging, and/or information providing; itmay also be desirable or useful to detect other elements or sets ofelements. Depending on context, X-ray fluorescence signatures of tissue(which may be considered to be one embodiment of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing information), may bevery helpful for a variety of diagnosis or examination purposes, forexample.

Zinc is another example of an element, which could be detected bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Zinc can be used as a naturally-occurringindicator of certain types of pathological brain tissue. For example,the elevated presence of zinc in the brain can be used to identifyepileptic areas in the hippocampus (in the medial temporal lobe of thebrain). As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured todetect particular elements, matter, combinations of matter, materials,metal, alloys, fluids, bones, etc., and as such may be particularlyuseful for X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding for certain applications. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can becontrollable and/or adjustable such as to allow setting or adjusting forparticular X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding applications.

Certain embodiments of such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing from the surface 168 may be performed fromwithin the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth that may be based atleast partially on the density, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter. Certainof the X-ray fluorescences returning to the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, that X-ray fluorescence atfluorescing events from matter from different ones of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth, may overlap and potentially interfere withX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) that have a contributed X-rays from differentfluorescing events. Such clarification between interfering X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) resulting from different fluorescing events at differentprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths, and/or positions,etc., can limit confusion among image information obtained fromdifferent fluorescing events at varying prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths.

Assuming a relatively narrow X-ray fluorescence range to the at leastone prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth based at leastpartially on X-ray fluorescence from fluorescing events. The overlap ofX-ray fluorescence from different depths can be considered asoriginating from a single one of the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the at least one X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing depth, assuming the material is substantiallyhomogenous across the X-ray fluorescence range of the prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depths. The overlapped X-rays canthereupon be processed or treated as originating from the same location.For example, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding of the skin, and/or some other relatively homogeneous matter,of a person may appear consistent, even if the X-ray fluorescences X-rayfluorescence from within the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information based at least partially onX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) X-ray fluorescence the slightly overlapped prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depths of fluorescing events, and canthereby reduce quality or uniformity of imaging or X-ray fluorescencevisualization. For example, consider the X-ray fluorescence could beexpected to be X-ray fluorescence, down to similar prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depths, within similar type matter withinthe person, assuming substantially homogeneous or consistent matter downthrough the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Certaintypes of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding can be performed as scanning, such as to screen for, ordetect, aberrations of the matter (e.g., skin) such as cancers, lesions,abscesses, infections, tumors, moles, cuts, abrasions, etc. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly, which can beused to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide informationrelating to a considerable variety of matter, such as regents made up ofrelatively thin matter that are selected to increase the homogeneity ofthe region. By selecting or using the relatively thin image region, thematter's homogeneity thereby generally increases in a manner that canprovide improved X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing.

By using relatively thin image regions, which are therefore likely to bemore homogeneous than thicker regions; certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may utilizesuch devices as scintillators (and/or fluoroscopes, certain of which canalso include scintillators) which can directly convert X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) into viewable and/or visible light, as described in thisdisclosure. Within this disclosure, “viewable” light can, depending oncontext, be intended to include, but is not limited to, visible lightsuch as is recognized as being viewable by most sighted humans, as wellas at least certain infra-red and ultra-violet light. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize certain of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 including scintillators, examination withfurther processing capabilities which can image process, or otherwiseprocess, the output of the scintillator prior to being displayed to theuser. As such, the output of the scintillator may be included as inputto, for example, a processor performing image processing or other suchtechnique. The output can thereupon be applied to the user asvisualizing, imaging, or providing information. Additionally, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can operate including a such later or similar device thatas input to a processor such as an image processor, the output may notbe displayed to the user, but instead can be stored such as data in adatabase, applied to some detection system or sensing system, oralternatively utilized in some non-display are non-visualizing fashion.

Within this disclosure, such conversion of X-ray photons byscintillators into viewable and/or visible light that may be viewed(directly or by subsequent processing) by certain users directly. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 may include a photodiode or other photodetectoroperably associated with the output of the scintillator (not shown, andconsidered as a portion of the scintillator) which can output to certainportions of the X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly. As such, certainscintillator-based embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can provide viewable and/or visiblelight directly to a user, or alternately output viewable and/or visiblelight that can be further analyzed, amplified, filtered, or otherwiseprocessed such that could be viewed by the user following the multiplesteps such as by a machine, machine-based processor, optical processingdevice, etc. Certain scintillators, for example, could be operablycoupled to photodiodes, whose outputs can thereupon be further analyzed.

Certain scintillator embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 being applied to certain relativelythin organisms, plants, etc. may also X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, or provide information about the thickness of at least somematter of the at least certain portions of the individual using suchtechniques. Certain such scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 may be operationally simpler, and therefore involve relativelylittle processing as compared with other X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing techniques by other(more processor-complex) embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. The scintillatorembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can create images based, at least in part, on the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 received by the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151; since the X-rayfluorescences being produced by the former are being converted directlyinto viewable or visible light using scintillators (and/orfluoroscope-based technology).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in this disclosure with respectto FIG. 20, 21, or 22, can facilitate X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing between a first one of the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to the first one of the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth from the surface 168.Such X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or providing informationcan occur either from an internal or external surface of the portion ofthe individual (or the first one of the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the first one of the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth from the surface 168) to a second one of the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to a second one of the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth from the surface. Thematter aberration 360 can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orinformation provided such as can be provided or enhanced based at leastpartially on the elemental composition (or chemical composition,compound composition, or biological material composition with the use ofX-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents,etc.).

Certain of such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques can be obtained at least partially bycombination (e.g., image differentiation, image subtraction, imagetransformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, time of flight calculation, orother such computation or image processing techniques). With suchcombination of images, etc., multiple X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations or images can be obtained, in the form of X-rayfluorescence depth visualization or image information, from X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing from thesurface 168 down to multiple different prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths 169, 170, thereby imaging through a depth 172.

Certain occurrences of the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information can thereupon be obtained from theshallower X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information value using image combining (such as by using imagesubtraction, image differentiation, image transformation, deconvolution,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and group includinginverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform,inverse functional transform, and subtractive inverse functionaltransform, or other such image processing or computational techniques),from between multiple X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information values. To depth-image a relatively thickportion of the individual (e.g., a X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing slice that is thicker than can bedepth imaged by itself with desired resolution, image quality, etc.), anumber of relatively thin image X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,or information providing slices can be imaged, and the number of imagescan thereupon be added, summed, or otherwise combined using a variety ofappropriate image processing techniques.

As described in this disclosure, the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing of X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing slices can be performed by successiveimage combination, by which the information, data, value, etc. of theshallower image can be combined, subtracted, or otherwise transformedout from that of the thicker image for each successive X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing slice, toobtain image information of the particular X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing slice.

Such techniques can also be utilized by certain image combiningprocesses (e.g., image subtraction, image differentiation, imagetransformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, time of flight techniques;scintillator or fluoroscope techniques, or other X-rayfluorescence-based techniques). Certain image combining techniques maybe particularly useful when attempting to visualize, image, or provideinformation relating to a particular region such as with imaging sliceswere visualizing slices that may be separate from the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, such as by using imagesubtraction, etc. The X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing slices can at least partially involve combiningrelatively thick portions of the individual, and can thereupon bedigitally, analog, or otherwise combined using combining imageprocessing techniques, and can be clarified such as to limit distortingaspects such as opaque X-ray matter, noise, etc, such as involvingdeconvolution, transforms, etc. Certain of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizations, images, and/or information can be maintained to form amodel, which can be relied on for X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing purposes. Alternately, atwo-dimensional X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding slice having some thickness and either a substantially planaror curvilinear surface (simple curve, complex curve, or other) can beX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information providedwithin the at least the portion of the individual at a location nearby,or away from, the surface of the at least the portion of the individual.For example, certain examples of X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or providing information can occur with the at least oneemitter being positioned adjacent the skin, as can be applied internallysuch as can be applied within lumens, etc.

Alternately, time of the flight computations can be used to derive X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providinginformation, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canX-ray fluorescence visualize or image a volume or portion extendingbetween two of the at least one X-ray fluorescence ranges from thesurface 168 can utilize time of flight computations (such as describedwith respect to FIG. 22). Certain time of flight computations canoperate at least partially by determining a total distance from the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, tothe particular fluorescing event of the at least the portion of theindividual, and thereupon continue to the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Such distance can be determined,for example, by measuring the duration for X-rays to travel thatdistance. The distance can thereby be determined at least partiallybased on the combined temporal duration (time) of the travel by the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/or the atleast one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100of FIG. 22 can include a time of flight calculator 160 (which can beincluded in the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of FIG. 1 or 2), which can derivethe time of flight duration(s), and thereupon compute the total time offlight distance(s).

Certain embodiments of time of flight computation such as can utilizethe time of flight calculator 160, as described with respect to FIG. 22,can involve generation of relatively brief pulses of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 (e.g., X-ray photonradiation), which are directed by the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 towards the imaged region of theat least the portion of the individual. Thereupon, the X-rays formingthe pulses or bursts of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can be X-ray fluorescence within the matter of theat least the portion of the individual at the fluorescing event, such ascan be detected by the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 following X-ray fluorescence of the brief pulse (alsoconsidered a form of time modulation). Time of flight calculations canbe derived based, at least partially, on the time required for the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 to travel toand X-ray fluorescence at the fluorescing event (within the matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual), and thereupon have theX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) travel to the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151. Considering the total distance between the point ofX-ray fluorescence at the fluorescing event and the X-ray fluorescencereceiving assembly, and thereupon the angle of X-ray fluorescence andfluorescing event through which the X-rays travel through the at leastthe portion of the individual. The location of the fluorescing eventwithin the matter of the at least a portion of the individual canthereupon be determined relying on calculations based on the speed ofX-rays, their direction traveled (as determined by limiting the passageof the X-ray fluorescence photons to only those traveling within aprescribed range of degrees at within a prescribed region), andthereupon their distance traveled. The speed of X-rays and gamma rays,for example, correspond to the speed to light.

The combined distance from the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150, to the location of the fluorescingevent, and thereupon to the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151, can thereby be used to derive the at least one X-rayfluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth at least partially using time of flight calculations.With time of flight calculations, precision in the detected timing andmeasured distance is important in accurately determining the location ofX-ray fluorescence within the matter. Therefore, certain embodiments ofthe detector portions of the X-ray fluorescence receiving assemblyand/or high energy photon and/or particle emitter portions, as describedwith respect to FIG. 22, could have at least low picosecond rangedetection operational duration to provide suitable accuracy. Suchpicosecond range detection operational duration to provide suitableaccuracy can be performed using, for example, certain streak cameras,pixilated streak cameras, an avalanche detector, CCD, or other detectorembodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151. Other embodiments of the detector portions could operate withconsiderably longer signal detection duration rate while perhapsaccepting reduced quality or resolution in X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize a variety of controllers,computers, etc. (considered as a portion of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97) ascertain users such as to provide a variety of automation and/or enhancedreliably of operation or analysis. As such, with certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,a variety of human or automated users can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to the subsurface of the atleast the portion of the individual 82 at certain typically controllableprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths. The mechanism forX-ray fluorescence are generally understood by those skilled with X-raytechnology, and will not be described in greater detail except wheresuited to this particular disclosure.

With individuals such as humans and/or animals, for example, theexternal surface 168 can include such surfaces as skin, mucousmembranes, and other such external surfaces etc. Certain individualssuch as plants or organisms (living in the environment such as outside,living in humans, animals, plants, or other organisms, and/orhuman-designed or human created) can have at least one external surface168 that may come in contact with the external environment from whichmuch of the potential X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing could be performed. Examples of the externalsurface may include the outer layer of a leaf, a trunk, a stalk, afruit, a root portion, a vegetables, etc. It may not be necessary, inthose embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, that are applied within the matter of theindividual (such as via incision, or other breach of the surface), toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at leastpartially through the surface.

Certain individuals, such as organisms, plants, or portions thereof, canbe X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information providedusing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 for such purposes as to determine health,internal structure, insect infestation, contamination, illness, etc.Certain types of individuals such as fruits, roots, or vegetables asproduced by plants can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as to determinefreshness of the item, suitability of the item, insect infestation,disease, contamination, inconsistency from desired state, etc. A storeor market (which may commercially sell certain meats, vegetables,fruits, plants, etc., for example) may utilize certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100such as to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to at least a portion of the individual todetermine their health, condition, etc. Such determination of thecondition can be applied either prior to purchase, following storage forsome duration, or prior to selling, etc. In this manner, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, or provideinformation relating to animals that are living, deceased, autopsied, orbeing prepared or maintained for food or consumption, etc. Such X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing ofanimals, plants, organisms, roots, etc. can be based, at least in part,and changing X-ray fluorescence characteristics as or to guard againstthe matter rotting, disintegrating, melting, distorting, aging, orotherwise changing.

With such individuals as humans and/or animals, the term “internal” canpertain to those locations accessible through normally open openings(e.g., mouth, ears, nose, various lumens, blood vessels, urethra, anal,etc.) and/or normally closed openings, such as may be accessed via anincision as described in this disclosure. The interior of suchindividuals as organisms, cells, bacteria, viruses, etc. can be accessedthrough normally closed openings such as incisions, pipettes, probes,tools, tactile feedback devices, cutters, displays, etc. As such, theterm “surface”, whether situated at least partially internally and/or atleast partially externally relative to the at least the portion of theindividual, should relate to, and/or be considered relative to, andbased on, the particular aspects, conditions, and/or particulars of theat least the portion of the individual. As such, there can be a largevariety of access locations for certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide position determination, control,and/or adjustment of certain of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least one detectorportions 152 (and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151). Such adjustment and/or control of the portions orentirety of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be used to control and/or adjust the amount and/ordepth of matter through which the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information, such as when X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing (to within the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth). Certain aspects of such control and/oradjustment is typically characterized by the energy level and/orfrequency of the X-ray photons.

For example, consider where a particular X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured (e.g., based onX-ray photon energy and/or frequency) to X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information at the at least one controllableand/or adjustable prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Ifthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 can be arranged to direct the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 substantially perpendicular to the surface168 of the at least the portion of the individual, the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing couldoccur within the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth of, for example, 5 mm. However, as the angle of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 by the high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) to the surface 168 of the matterchanges from perpendicular to some slant from a surface of the at leastthe portion of the individual, such as illustrated in FIG. 21 or 22, theat least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth alsochanges. The at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth corresponds to the maximum depth which the X-rays can pass to,X-ray fluorescence at, and return from during the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing. Therefore, as theangle of the X-rays applied by the high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) to the surface 168 of the at least some matter of theat least the portion of the individual changes (e.g., from perpendicularto some angle), the effective perpendicular X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing could change, whichtypically changes as a cosine function of the change of angle.

With many types of individuals, most surfaces 168 are not completelyplanar, and many may hardly be planar at all. Consider that mostsurfaces of people, animals, organisms, and plants are not typicallyflat, but instead we have some degree of curvature over our surfaces.For the purpose of this disclosure, such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing concepts can beexplained and more easily modeled assuming a planar initial contactsurface, which may become closer to true as the depth imaged or X-rayfluorescence visualized region becomes incrementally smaller.

Within this disclosure, “X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing”, as may therefore be performed within some setdistance from the surface 168 at which X-ray based electromagneticradiation from the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 is being emitted and X-ray fluorescence, and can thereuponbe detected. Certain aspects of such X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing may rely on the configuration and/oroperation respective high energy photon and/or particle emitter portionsand/or detector portions that can respectively apply X-rays proximateto, and/or receive X-rays from, the surface 168 of the at least theportion of the individual.

The matter of the at least the portion of the individual which can beX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information providedusing a variety of embodiments and/or configurations of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can vary.For instance, for X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing humans or animals, the soft matter that can beX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided caninclude but is not limited to: soft tissue, fluid (blood, spinal, lymph,etc.) bone portions interspersed among tissue, tissue forming organs,muscles, fat, flesh, etc. Additionally, relatively hard matter such as:bones, bone portions, joints, spine portions, teeth, etc. can be X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided usingcertain configurations or embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. As such, the interiorbones, teeth, etc. can be depth imaged to provide a considerable amountof internal X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding. As such, the particulars of the at least some matter can havesome effect on the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing. As such, a variety of embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beapplied to a variety of visualizing, imaging, or information providingapplications.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider can additionally X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to such matter can beassociated with, or positioned in or nearby the at least the portion ofthe individual as plastic, metal, implants, pins, constructs, fillings,orthopedic braces, dental braces, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider can be eitherstand-alone devices, or provide input into the at least the portion ofthe individual such as a tool, implant, tactile feedback providers,injecting device, probe, cutter, drill, separator, ablator, Bovieelectrocautery device, material adder, material remover, etc. Certainportions of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in this disclosure, can pertain to X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing within themedical areas, orthopedic areas, research areas, dental areas,orthodontia areas, veterinarian areas, livestock areas, wild animal oraquatic animal areas, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of such individuals as plants or organisms caninvolve X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding at least some of the various particular components orstructure of the plant or organism. Such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of plants, organisms,etc. can be for research, commercial, medical, veterinarian, dental, orother purposes. For instance, certain organisms being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have information provided can within a human,animal, or other host, can be distinct, or can be at least partiallyintegrated in human, plant, organism, animal, etc.

There may be particular aspects of particular type of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing, as can be performed byparticular embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described in this disclosure. For example,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 might be particularly useful in X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing a regionwithin the at least the portion of the individual that is physicallyseparated from the location where the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 initially pass through the surface. As such,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be used to to image through considerablematter, tissue, etc. that may not be desired to be included in the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing, such asby using image combining (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight X-rayfluorescence X-ray fluorescence depth visualization, or other techniquesuch as by using image subtraction, image transformation, deconvolution,image subtraction, weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, andgroup including inverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integraltransform, inverse functional transform, and subtractive inversefunctional transform, or other such image processing techniques), and/orother imaging, or information providing, techniques as described in thisdisclosure may be utilized. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing or imaging effects of such matter that isnot desired to be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided can be computationally limited, such as by limitedprocessing capabilities, memory storage, and/or retrieval, etc. of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured or operated to most effectively image thematter of the at least the portion of the individual situated nearby theexternal or internal surface 168 (e.g., via skin or other internal orexternal surface, or alternately through an incision, cut, etc.) of theat least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are described in this disclosure as havingtheir energy level and/or frequency of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 that can be controlled and/oradjusted. The term controllable can, depending on context, indicate theability of the user and/or other entity to control the X-rayfluorescence range and/or the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepths relative to the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. Such control can be based at least in part on controllingthe energy level and/or frequency of at least some the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. By comparison, the termadjustable can, depending on context, indicate that some adjustment canbe made to the depth at which the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 X-ray fluorescence visualizes, images, orprovides information into the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. Such adjustment can be based, at least in part, oncontrolling the energy level and/or frequency of at least some the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120. Such controlor adjustment of the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth, orX-ray fluorescence ranges, can be made during initial and/or subsequentX-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing,and can be empirically determined or not. A variety of embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100may be controllable and/or adjustable based at least in part oncontrolling the energy level and/or frequency of at least some the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, as describedin this disclosure; while other embodiments may not.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97, of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described in thisdisclosure, can utilize a variety of software, hardware, firmware, X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing or imaging technology, electronic and/orelectric circuitry to facilitate the desired X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing. A variety of thesoftware, hardware, firmware, X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing orimaging technology, electronic and/or electric circuitry is understoodin the field of controllers, optical systems, electronics, and/orcomputers; and might be effectively performed by a variety of types ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97. For instance, certain embodiments of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing that can rely at leastpartially on X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding image subtraction or combination, filtering, and/orprocessing, etc., as described in this disclosure, such as areparticularly likely to involve software, hardware, firmware, and/orelectronic to perform suitable image processing such as transforms, etc.As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can allow transitioning orreconfiguration between different types of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing such as by operationselection, reprogramming, modification, replacement, or reconfigurationof the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97. Such modification by the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 maycontrol operation of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 of FIG. 1 or 2). The operational or processingrequirements of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 may be quite demanding, for certainapplications.

FIGS. 23 and 25 illustrate two respective exemplary but not limitingembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, each embodiment conforms generally to the description onthis disclosure relating to the FIG. 1 or 2 block diagram. Exemplary,but not limiting, logic pertaining to the respective FIGS. 23 and 25embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, and can be applied to certain large flow charts asdescribed respectively relative to FIGS. 24 and 26.

It is envisioned that one or more distinct components, or portions, ofcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, can be included in one or more separate ordistinct X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 (such as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2 and at otherlocations) can be operationally combined or configured as desired. Suchcomponents or portions from the one or more separate or distinct X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 caninteroperate, using known networking concepts. Each portion or componentof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providercan thereby perform one or more distinct functions or operationsassociated with the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider.

As such, at least certain portions or components of differentembodiments of one or more of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can interface and/or interact with eachother such as to transfer, transmit, and/or receive images, X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information there between.Such transfer, transmission, and/or reception techniques can be providedin a manner utilizing techniques understood by those skilled incomputing, hard-wired, wireless, networking, optical, communications,and other similar technologies. Such transmission, transferring, and/orreceiving can be performed utilizing wireless, optical, wired basedand/or other known technologies.

There can be a variety of, and embodiments of, devices and/or techniqueswhich can be used by the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150, that can generate the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120. For example, certain embodiments ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize X-ray devices, tubes, etc. to generate X-rays.A variety of X-ray tubes may be used to generate X-rays for a variety ofconventional X-ray devices and/or conventional fluoroscopy devices, suchas are generally known and are commercially available. ConventionalX-ray devices, tubes, etc., such as may be utilized for conventionalmedical X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding, are described, for example, in chapter 5 of “The EssentialPhysics of Medical Imaging, Second Edition”, J. T. Bushburg, et al.,Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2002 (incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety). The X-ray tubes, devices, etc. can, depending oncontext, be considered as those devices that can be configured toproduce X-rays including X-ray photons of a particular energy level orrange of energy levels, frequency or range of frequencies, power orrange of powers, etc. for the conventional transmissive X-ray imaging,for example, the X-rays can pass through the at least the portion of theindividual 82. By comparison, certain embodiments of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information utilizing suchX-ray fluorescence mechanisms of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 in a manner that can rely on X-rays that havecharacteristics (frequency, energy level, power, etc. of the X-rayphotons).

Certain external embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured such that theparticular frequency or X-ray photon energy, or such other operationalcharacteristic(s) of at least some of the X-ray photons included withinthe at least one applied high energy photon, can pertain to the depth ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.As such, the frequency or energy level of a number of X-ray photonsincluded in the at least one applied high energy photon, if controlledor adjusted, can have the effect of controlling or adjusting thedepth(s) of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding into the matter of the at least the portion of the individual82. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information down to within the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth which can be at least partially adjusted and/or controlled. Suchdetermination can be either at least partially empirically, empirically,such as by calculation, derivation, or determination. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can obtain the X-ray fluorescence information in the formof information, data, X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information, etc.

The at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth from the surface 168 of theindividual, such that the electromagnetic radiation of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 passes into the at leastthe portion of the individual, fluoresce, and may therefore cause areduction in the energy level of the X-ray upon fluoresce. The latterdistance can be controlled to effectively control the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing characteristics as perthe former. Certain of the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to theat least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth, which canvary along with varied surface configurations, roughness, materialnon-uniformities, etc.

By controlling the characteristics of the X-rays photons (e.g.,frequency and/or energy level of the X-ray photons, intensity of theX-rays, angle of the X-rays, etc.), the perpendicular distance from thesurface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual that the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 passes can becontrolled and/or adjusted. Such control and/or adjusting of the energylevel, frequency, direction, intensity, position, and/or other aspect orparameter of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 can considerably limit the amount and type of matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual through which the X-rays may be applied.For instance, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider can be configured to emit the X-raybased electromagnetic radiation (of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 or the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g.,X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.)) at one or more selectedorgan(s) and/or matter, while limiting the application of the X-rayelectromagnetic radiation to other organs, matter, etc. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can control the angle at which it applies its X-ray photonsto the surface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual.

Due to the uncertain health effects of application of X-rays on humans,other individuals, and/or users, it may be desirable to limit the amountof X-ray electromagnetic radiation applied to the at least the portionof the individual, and/or any nearby users, when using the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Ingeneral, therefore, it is desirable to limit such dosages of suchelectromagnetic radiation as X-rays that individual such as persons areanimals are exposed to. Additionally, it would be expected to easeacceptance of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 by the appropriate regulatoryagencies, in the amount of X-rays being applied to individuals and/orusers (particularly human) could be limited considerably. As such, bythe certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 be configured to image a relatively smallportion of the individual using depth-imaging techniques (e.g., imagingscan in a small portion underneath, primarily imaging matter through theprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth, primarily certainorgans, etc.), it can inherently limit the amount and extent of X-rayspassing through the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual.

For example, certain regions or locations of particular individuals(e.g., the embryo in pregnant women, certain organs, certain tissue,radiation-weakened individuals, elderly or informed, certain animals ororganisms, etc.) might be particularly susceptible to the application ofX-ray electromagnetic radiation, and as such are especially critical toshield from the application of X-rays. As such, it might be particularlydesirable to configure at least certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to allowcontrol of the particular X-ray fluorescence range of the prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 (as well as their released amount)within the at least the portion of the individual. By limiting theamount of and the energy level of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 being applied to the at least some matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual by such techniques assubstantial bandwidth limiting, X-ray energy reduction, filtering,shielding, etc., can limit the application of the X-ray to the userand/or individual to substantially within some prescribed bandwidth.

Allowing relatively precise directional control of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 using collimators,lenses, etc. such as emitted by the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, as compared with certainconventional X-ray imagers (conventional transmissive or X-rayfluorescence X-rays) can considerably reduce the X-ray dosage to the atleast the portion of the individual. Also, X-ray dosages to nearby userscan be limited. Such use of relatively low-energy the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120, precise application ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 tolimited region of the individual, and associated reduced dosage ofnearby areas, users, and/or individuals by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldimprove the public's and professional perception and acceptance thereof.

With certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, the user such as a doctor, researcher,veterinarian, surgeon, etc. (each of whom may be involved inexamination, surgery, and/or research, etc.) can appropriatelysubsurface X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to the at least the portion of the individual 82.Depending on context, certain types of X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing can be applied from nearby orproximate the surface 168 down to within the at least one X-rayfluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can vary from the micronrange up to and including substantially through a major portion of theindividual 82.

The resolution of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 might be effective forcertain diagnosis, examination, surgical, research, and other purposes;and certain embodiments X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider could provide desired or appropriate resolutionsthrough the X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or informationprovided portion of the individual 82.

It may be desired for certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing applications to adjust and/or control the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing by certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. Within this disclosure, the term “control”, as it relatesto X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing,can mean, but is not limited to, controlling the energy level,frequency, angle, additional matter imaged through, and/or othercharacteristics of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Within this disclosure,the term “adjust” can mean, but is not limited to, depending on context,adjusting the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Such control oradjustment can occur by altering or adjusting certain characteristics ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 such asenergy level, frequency, depth, angle from perpendicular to the surface168, etc.

Such control and/or adjustment of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can makethe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider moreapplicable to a variety of applications. For example, certaincontrollable embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information a variety of matter within the at least theportion of the individual at a variety of depths, or X-ray fluorescencerange of X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding depths. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can adjust the depth ofX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingand/or their resolution based on controlling the X-ray characteristicsof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore be configured to be adjustablytunable, such that the user can adjust the energy of the X-ray photons.By adjusting the energy of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120, for example, the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing depth of X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing into thematter of the at least the portion of the individual can be adjusted.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize steered, focused, directed,filtered, scanned, and/or processed X-rays. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information along avariety of one, two, or three dimensional patterns, in certain instancessuch as by scanning to create a two or three dimensional X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information within the atleast the portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to be low or non-contact, as well as low or non-invasive,such as by utilizing one or more of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 having no or limited contact withthe surface 168.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider may allow the operation and/or structure of thedetector portion and the display portion to be at least partiallycombined. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can allow the user, or a controller,to alter the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding of subsequent or sequential X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information based at least inpart on results from prior captured images. Such sequential X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information may allow suchexemplary users as doctors, surgeons, veterinarians, researchers, etc.to determine the region within the at least the portion of theindividual that is being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided. It may be desirable to provide for such changes inX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingusing a variety of image processing techniques to effect such changes asmagnification, zooming, changing a relative angle, depth, or position ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or provided information,and/or changing a variety of other X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing parameter such as may be desired oruseful by the user or individual.

A variety of configurations and/or operational combinations of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, the at leastone detector portion, and/or the at least one display portion(s) 154 maybe associated with the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. As described in this disclosure, certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 can be directed such as to apply X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation at a precisely controllable region of the atleast the portion of the individual 82; such as may thereupon bedetected by certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion152. Such application and/or detection of the electromagnetic radiationcan be done once, multiple continuous times without feedback by a userand/or controller, multiple sequential times with feedback by a userand/or controller, or other ways or combinations thereof. Theapplication or detection of X-rays may rely on transmission of a varietyof radiation such as pulse, continuous, pencil, fan, flooding, or othertypes of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120.

Certain embodiment(s) component(s), and/or portion(s) of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as an at least partially external emitter device, such as todepth-examine the at least some matter of the at least the portion ofthe individual either directly through the matter itself, or alternatelybelow an either external or internal surface 168 of the at least theportion of the individual. For certain external embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the“subsurface” X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding can, depending upon context, relate to X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing beneath the skin orother external surface. Certain embodiment(s) component(s), and/orportion(s) of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider can be configured as an at least partially internal device,such as to examine an internal portion of the individual 82 through anincision, or alternately through a normally open opening in the at leastthe portion of the individual.

For certain internal embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, a “subsurface” undergoing X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing can,depending upon context, relate to being applied through openings of theindividual, such as a normally open portions of the individual, such asbeneath the surface 168, within a region at least partially forming thelumen, within a cavity, or within another body opening. For internalembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that can be applied through normally closed portions of theindividual (e.g., an incision, a wound, etc.), the term “subsurface”can, depending upon context, including the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 being applied throughthe normally-closed opening, incision, etc. Various embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information through avariety of such matter as tissue, bone portions, fluid, blood, etc.through the X-ray fluorescence range of the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths to the prescribed prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth 170, as described with respect to FIG. 23.

FIG. 24 shows one embodiment of a flowchart of a X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing technique 300 that canbe performed by the embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described in this disclosure ofthe at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certainembodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 can include operationally distinct ones of the at least one detectorportion 152 from the at least one display portion 154. Certainembodiments of the subsurface X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing technique 300 can include one or moreoperations 302, 304, 306, and/or 308 to be applied within the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth into the at least some matter.

Certain embodiments of operation 302 can include, but is not limited to,applying at least one the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 from an at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 towards an at least some matter of an at least aportion of an individual. For example, certain embodiments of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 canapply X-rays toward the desired matter (e.g., tissue, fluid, bone,teeth, joint, fat, muscle, etc.) of the at least the portion of theindividual in a manner that the X-rays can be X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing within the at least somematter. Such application of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can thereupon be used by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 toallow X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding. A considerable percentage of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 that fluoresce at the X-rayfluorescing event, and thereupon are returned to be detected by the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 could X-rayfluorescence between within the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Thevalue of the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth can be based at leastpartially on the energy level of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120. The energy level of the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 is considered to be directlyrelated to frequency.

Certain embodiments of the operation 304 can include, but is not limitedto, obtaining at least one X-ray fluorescence that X-ray fluorescencefrom the at least one the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 at the at least one detector portion 152. In effect,certain of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 can bereceived at the detector portion 152, at least partially based on theX-ray fluorescence of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 at the fluorescing event (e.g., within the at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual). Certain of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can be appliedby the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 during operation 302.

Certain embodiments of the operation 306 (which is optional) caninclude, but are not limited to, processing the at least one X-rayfluorescence received during operation 304, to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information about the at least theportion of the individual. For example, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97 can derive X-ray fluorescence visualizations, images, and/or provideinformation such as can be displayed.

Certain embodiments of the operation 308 can include, but is not limitedto, deriving the at least one X-ray fluorescence visualization, image,and/or provided information at least partially responsive to the inducedX-ray fluorescing photon, as can be at least partially processed and/orcaptured during operation 304. For example, certain embodiments of thedisplay portion 154 and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 (which may be a scintillator and/or fluoroscopeembodiment) can display a X-ray fluorescence visualization, image,and/or provide information of at least a portion of the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider may be configured to, at least partially, convertX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) directly into viewable or visible light, without theprocessing the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray,photon, particle, etc.) such as may be provided with certainscintillator embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 25. FIG.26 shows one embodiment of a flowchart of a X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing technique 400 that canbe performed by the embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 without processing. Certainembodiments of the subsurface X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing technique 400 can include one or more ofoperations 402, 404, and/or 406 as described in this disclosure to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information using ascintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiment of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain scintillator (and/orfluoroscope) embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, orprovide information within the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth intothe matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the operation 402 can include, but is not limitedto, applying at least one the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 from the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) towards the at least some matter of the atleast the portion of the individual. For example, certain embodiments ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 can apply X-rays toward the desired matter (e.g., tissue, fluid,bone, teeth, joint, fat, muscle, etc.) of the at least the portion ofthe individual in a manner that the X-rays can be X-ray fluorescencewithin the matter.

Certain embodiments of the operation 404 can include, but is not limitedto, receiving at least some X-ray fluorescence at the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 as described in this disclosure,in response to the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 applied by the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150. A considerable percentage of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 that X-rayfluoresces and are returned that can be detected by the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 will X-ray fluorescencethrough the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Such X-ray fluorescencedepth can be based at least partially on the energy level (or frequency,which is related thereto) of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120, as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the operation 406 can include, but is not limitedto, deriving at least one X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, orprovided information at least partially in response to the receiving theat least one X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray,photon, particle, etc.) at the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151. For example, certain scintillator (and/or fluoroscope)embodiments of the display portion 154 and/or the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can display a X-ray fluorescencedepth visualization or image of at least a portion of the matter of theindividual based at least partially on the elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 thereby can provide a mechanism to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information down to, orat, one or more prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths (inmany instances controllably) into at least partially X-ray matter suchas to capture X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information based at least partially on the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials. Within thisdisclosure, much of the matter being depth-imaged by certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be expected to be interspersed, mixed, compounded, or at leastpartially combined with other matter such as bones, metal, etc. withinthe individual such as typically exists in at least certain portions ofthe individual 82. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence, suchas can be performed by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can thereby be used toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information matterthat can be at least partially combined with relatively electromagneticradiation-X-ray fluorescence matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to be used to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information of theelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials that isrelatively dense within the at least portions of certain matter. Suchdensity may indicate the matter includes, e.g., bones, bone fragments orportions, spinal portions, cranial portions, metal, implants, etc. Suchre-configurations as altering the frequencies of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 may be used to configurethe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationmatter(s) having varied characteristics or transitions thereof. By X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing ofhard matter such as bones, spinal portions, certain implants, etc., itcan become possible to examine a two-dimensional, or three-dimensionalportion of the bone, etc. with considerable resolutional accuracy. SuchX-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingof hard matter can be controlled and/or adjusted as described in thisdisclosure. Such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of hard matter or dense matter can be performedprior to surgery or examination, during surgery or examination,following surgery or examination. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information hard matter incombination with other matter. For example, a bone can be imaged incombination with at a junction with associated tissue, joints, muscles,tendons, surgical pins, plates, etc. Such junctions of dissimilar mattercan be particularly emphasized based on differences between theelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor forming the matter of either side of the junction. Additionally, abrain portion can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided relative to associated cranial portions (e.g.,skull), etc. Providing such adjustability or control of X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing can allowdoctors, surgeons, dentists, etc. to obtain accuracy of X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of avariety of matter within the at least the portion of the individual,particularly by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 using low power/dosagetechniques.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information relating to a combination of atleast some soft matter such as tissue, blood cells, bodily fluids, etc.as combined with certain embodiments of the at least some hard mattersuch as bones, teeth, etc. Such X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or providing information of a combination of at least some hardmatter with at least some soft matter (or low density matter) may beparticularly useful when considering junction matter regions that arelikely to be distinguishable based at least partially on the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials of the matter such asthe intersection of gums with teeth; the intersection of bones withtendons, ligaments, muscles, tissue, the intersection of pins orimplants with surrounding tissues or bones, etc.

A variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to image edges, sides,inconsistencies, or non-uniformities of matter, tissue, organs, etc. Itmay therefore be possible to locate particular organs, matter, tissue,etc. based on such aberrations, inconsistencies, or non-uniformities ofthe organs, matter, tissue, etc. For example, as the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 are applied to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information a region ofthe at least the portion of the individual where an organ is situated,the edge portion of the organ may X-ray fluorescence the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 in a direction thatdiffers from the remainder of the organ. Such X-ray fluorescence alongthe edge may lead into a detectable difference of the X-ray fluorescencedepth image at the edge of the X-ray fluorescence organ. Suchdifferences of characteristics of X-ray fluorescence based at least inpart on angle, position, or other aspect of the matter can be used bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in this disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 that can be included in certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in this disclosure, while FIG. 14 showsanother embodiment. Certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can emit the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 toward the at least theportion of the individual 82 over some specified angle and/or scan thatcan effect the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding such as with a pencil radiation, fan radiation, arearadiation, or other radiation pattern. For example, certain emitters ofcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizers, imagers, orinformation providers 100 can emit the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 in a narrow radiation pattern such as thepencil radiation pattern; or a wide radiation pattern such as a fan orflooding pattern. Certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can emit collimatedX-rays, while others can emit disperse X-rays. Certain embodiments ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 can include such adjustable optical elements as Bragg opticselements to adjust the pattern/direction of the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 emission, while others may not beadjustable or controllable. The configuration, design, and usage ofcertain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can depend, at least in part, on theparticular characteristics of the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing (as well as the characteristics of theat least the portion of the individual being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have information provided).

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 are therefore configured to direct atleast one X-ray towards the at least the portion of the individual.Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150, can include, but are not limited to, apower source 836, a cathode 832, a field emission tip 850, and/or ananode 834. Other illustrative potential structures of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 are describedin this disclosure, while still others are generally understood by thoseskilled with X-ray tubes and generating devices. Certain embodiments ofthe power source 836 and the cathode 832 can be arranged in an electroncircuit such as to provide an electric (e.g., electron) flow from thecathode 832, such as can be at least partially discharged via theelectron emitter tip 850 and the anode 834. Certain embodiments of theelectron emitter tip 850 can be in electrical communication with thecathode, such as to be configured as to be capable of discharging theelectron flow that can be at least partially directed at the anode 834.

Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 may be configured asan electron discharge region that can generate and/or direct theelectron flow in a pattern, frequency, energy level, configuration, orother parameter as described with respect to FIG. 13. Certainembodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 are configured to establishthe electron flow, and as such may include such elements as a triode,antenna, nanostructure, or other such component. Certain embodiments ofthe electron emitter tip 850 can also be configured to include one ormore (carbon) nanotubes, which may be effectively configured aselectromagnetic radiation antennas. Certain embodiments of the electronemitter tip 850 can thereby utilize one or more discrete elements, whileother embodiments can utilize a number or array of carbon nanotubes,etc.

Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 can be fixed, whileother embodiments can be adjusted or displaced such as to change such asto alter the pattern of electron emission, such as by moving theelectron source. One example of a movable or adjustable electron emittertip 850 can include, for example, utilizing adjustment or displacementof a flexible carbon nanotube electrically coupled to the cathode.

Certain embodiments of the anode 834 can be configured and/or biasedduring operation as to attract electrons from the combination of thecathode 832 and/or the electron emitter tip 850. Upon contact of theelectron flow into certain embodiments of the anode 834, certainembodiments of the anode can thereupon generate X-ray photons of thedesired frequency and/or energy level. In certain embodiments of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, theelectron flow emanating from the electron emitter tip 850 can remainsubstantially static, and as such may not be directable or scannable.With other embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150, the electron emitter tip 850 of thecathode 832 can steer, scan, or otherwise displace the electron flow tothe desired location relative to the anode 834. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be configured to include a stepper motor, or other motor ordisplacement mechanism (not shown) to control or adjust the positions ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 and/or the detector portion 152. The respective at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or detectorportion 152 may be configured to operationally pan and tilt duringoperation such as to provide a desired degree of adjustability. Certainembodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 can be configured as anX-ray source (e.g., in certain instances the size may be in the small mmrange such that it may, in certain instances, fit within certain bloodvessels or lumens such as to allow X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing from these locations). In otherembodiments, the size of the electron emitter tip 850 may beconsiderably larger such as to interface with an external or largerportion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 radiation can beconfigured to be displaceable or moveable such as to allow controland/or adjustment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, such as by scanning, shifting, axially moving,radiation focusing control, rotating, panning, or otherwise moving toalter the path of the electron flow. For example: one or more MicroElectro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices, a rotating crystal, anelectromechanical or X-ray scanning mechanism, or other suitable meansmay be included in the certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip850 such as to provide control and/or adjustment of the electron emittertip. Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can be configured to produce X-rays thatare at least partially incident on a lens (not shown, but which mayinclude a crystal which is configured as a lens) that can bedisplaceable to move and/or scan the X-ray radiation. Alternately,certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can be configured as an array typedevice, with different ones are different groups of the elements being acontrolled either manually or at least partially by the X-rayfluorescence depth visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97. Such scanning of the X-ray radiation can follow araster-type scan, use a fan type radiation, pencil type radiation, orother scan, perhaps similar to those utilize to in certain otherconventional tomography scanners, or may follow some other pattern. Incertain instances, the scanning of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 may be coordinated with thescanning of the at least one detector portion 152, or alternately ascanning detector portion may be associated with the high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) that generates X-rays whicheffectively “flood” the at least the portion of the individual 82 beingX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided. Theselection of the particular scanning, pencil, flooding, or otherconfiguration may affect X-ray dosage of the user and/or nearbyindividuals, as described in this disclosure.

Various embodiments of the power source 836, as described with respectto FIG. 13, may be configured as desired, as long as it providesadequate power to the cathode to establish the electron flow from theparticular embodiment of the electron emitter tip 850, depending on theconfiguration of electron emitter tip as well as the anode. Certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 can thereby be configured to direct electrons, asprovided by the power source 836, the cathode 832, and/or the electronemitter tip 858. The electrons may therefore be directed from theelectron emitter tip 850 to the anode 834 as described with respect toFIG. 13. Altering or controlling the electron flow may have acorresponding effect on the generation of photons by the anode 834.Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 may alternately be powered optically,such as to include the photon generator 880 as applied to the powersource 836, as described with respect to FIG. 14.

Certain embodiments of the photon generator 880 can alternately utilize,for example, an optically fed photoelectric stack, an optical fedbattery, an energy accumulator (e.g., battery or capacitor), a solarpanel, or a variety of other device that can generate X-ray photons suchas may be used directly or indirectly as the applied high energy photonand/or particle 120. Certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 utilizing the photongenerator 880 as described with respect to FIG. 14, can be adjustable,controlled, fixed, dispersed, and/or focused, etc. as to control and/oradjust generation of X-ray photons as described with respect to the FIG.13 embodiment of the high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion.

With certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150, as described with respect to FIG. 13,an electron grid (not shown) may be positioned, adjusted, and/orcontrolled from a location such as operationally proximate to theelectron flow. For example, the electron grid may be situated adjacent apath at least partially situated between the electron emitter tip 850and the anode 834. Certain embodiments of the electron grid may beconfigured, upon activation, to steer, scan, or otherwise control theflow or velocity of electrons passing from the electron emitter tip 850to the anode 834. Such steering, scanning, accelerating, decelerating,or otherwise controlling the flow or velocity of electrons can inaddition control or alter the characteristics or position(s) at whichthe photons generated contact the particular anode 834.

Certain basic embodiments of the anode 834 can be configured in avariety of forms. For example, the anode can include a thin metal foil,or other configuration, that can be positioned in suitable proximity tothe electron emitter tip 850. Certain embodiments of the anode 834 canbe provided to be controllable and/or adjustable such as to include atleast one anode wheel, cassette, cartridge, etc. (not shown) that canemit X-ray photons whose characteristics can be adjusted and/orcontrolled, such as by displacement, rotation, etc., such as to providevaried anode metals or other materials anodes (or having differentshapes, dimensions, or other configurations) in communication with theelectron flow.

By using an anode wheel, cartridge, canister, or other such mechanismthat can alter the material and/or configuration of the anode, thecharacteristics of the X-ray photons (such as energy level and/orfrequency) being generated by the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) can be controlled or altered. Suchcontrolling and/or altering of the X-rays being emitted can controland/or alter the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at leastone prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth being performed bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described in this disclosure. Certain otheruses of anode wheels is known in certain conventional X-ray tubes, whichcan function largely to maintain all portions of the anode withinacceptable temperature ranges by altering the portion of the anode wheelwhich the electron flow contacts, and is therefore being instantaneouslyheated by the electron flow. The anode wheels could also include amotive mechanism (not shown) to allow suitable rotation and/ordisplacement of the anode wheel (either rotationally and/or axially)such as may utilize a stepper motor, a pneumatic drive, an electricmotor, etc. Certain embodiments of the anode wheel could also include avariety of control mechanisms (not shown) to control such rotationand/or displacement. A variety of such control, rotation, and/ordisplacement mechanisms are generally understood by those skilled in theanode wheel art.

Certain embodiments of the anode 834 can thereby be configured togenerate the X-ray photons at controllable and/or adjustable energylevels, frequencies, or other characteristic based at least in part onthe characteristic of the electron flow being applied to the anode 834,and additionally on the material of the anode 834. As such, it may bepossible to generate X-rays having particular characteristics byselecting particular materials (e.g., different metals) orconfigurations of the anode that can be either shifted in positionrelative to (e.g., in front of) the electron flow. Additionally, movingor angling the anode relative to the electrons (or vice versa) mayresult in different characteristics of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can therebybe adjusted or controlled by shifting or steering the electron flowrelative to the anode 834 such that the portion of the anode which theelectron flow contacts may be made of multiple varied materials and/orconfigurations. Certain embodiments of the anode 834 can be configuredin the shape of a wheel (e.g., to form an anode wheel) that when rotatedcan result in positioning of the desired metal in contact with theelectron flow such as to provide control and/or adjustment of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120.

There can be a variety of additional components that can be applied tocertain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 within certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 13 and/or 14. Certain embodiments of theat least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150can further include a collimator or X-ray lens 842 that can focus,angle, or direct the photons emitted from the high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) as desired. Certain embodiments of the X-raylens or collimator 842 can be controllable such as to provide control ofsuch X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingprocesses as high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)directability, signal or image filtering, image zooming, starting,stopping, or pausing X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, signal or image processing, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize an optional vacuum (at leastpartially evacuated) portion 854, as described with respect to FIGS. 13and/or 14, which can be utilized to limit contact of the electrons ofthe electron flow traveling from the cathode 832 to the anode 834 withextraneous gas, air, suspended solids, liquid, and/or other minuteparticles suspended in the air. As such, certain embodiments of theoptional vacuum (at least partially evacuated) portion 854 can limitinteraction of the photons with additional particles. Additionally,certain embodiments of the vacuum portion 854 may thereby be configuredto at least partially limit combustion of certain of the electroniccomponents contained therein as a result of the heat being generatedupon the exposure to air. Certain embodiments of the vacuum (at leastpartially evacuated) portion 854 can thereby be configured as a vacuumtube, such as may be configured as an interlumenal X-ray source and isgenerally understood by those skilled in the X-ray tube technologies.

Certain embodiments of a capacitor 830 can optionally be arranged in anelectronic circuit including the power source 836 and the cathode 832 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 13. Certain embodiments of the cathode832 can be configured with the capacitor 830 to store particular levelsof electric voltage such as can be applied to the cathode 832, andsubsequently released as desired as the electron flow via the electronemitter tip 850.

While this disclosure describes certain embodiments of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, it is to beunderstood that any mechanism that can transmit X-rays whose frequency,energy level, or other characteristic can be controlled or adjusted maybe used in certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. The embodiments of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 as describedin this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 13, 14, as well as otherlocations in this disclosure, is intended to be illustrative in nature,but not limiting in scope. As mentioned in this disclosure, for example,certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 could be at least partially replaced byan optical-generating portion as described with respect to FIG. 14. Itis envisioned that the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 can thereby be configured slightly differently inoperation and/or configurations, such as to generate photons in adifferent manner, but are still intended to be within the scope of thepresent disclosure as being within the claimed limitations. For example,the vacuum (evacuated) portion 854, such as a vacuum tube, may includeone or more discrete emitter tip elements or one or more (carbon)nanotubes be configured as the electron emitter tip 850 as describedwith respect to FIG. 13.

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIGS.13 and 14, may therefore be adjustable and/or controllable such as bybeing configured for repositioning, angling, filtering, or some othersuitable technique. For instance, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can includea stepper motor such as may be configured such that it can pan and tilt,thereby providing some control and/or adjustment to emitted photons thatcan be emitted by the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150. Such stepper motors may thereupon be consideredto represent one illustrative embodiment of an adjustment or controlportion that can also be accomplished by use of a photon lens orcollimator 842.

Certain embodiments or configurations of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2, can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information teeth, dental plates or surfaces 168, etc. based atleast partially on the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials of the matter; such as may be operated or used by dentists,oral hygienists, etc. as described with respect to FIG. 27. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can allow X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of at least one tooth at one or more angles,positions, magnifications, etc. as desired. The particular display forthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100that may be selected may be based upon user preference, ease of use,design choice, etc. The embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as illustrated in FIG. 27, could beattached to a probe, for example. Similar user configurations of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be applied to tools being used by doctors, surgeons,veterinarians, as well as other users as described in this disclosure.As the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding can be performed by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 from anumber of different angles, positions, etc., it may be desired todisplay at least the display portion reflect the change in angle,position, etc.

The configuration of a display portion 154 of certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider may varydepending upon its use or user. For example, a dental embodiment of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer imager, or information provider is likelyto have a smaller display (perhaps providing lesser dosage) than afull-body tomographic-type embodiment.

As the user/dentist, as illustrated in FIG. 27, moves or repositions theprobe or drill, etc., it might be preferred to have the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 toadequately reflect the angle or position of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing. With sufficientchanges of the angle, material of the anode, and/or position of theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can derive and/or display a three-dimensionalmodel of the one or more teeth. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 cantherefore provide information or images such as to determine whereand/or how to treat the at least the portion of the individual(patient). Certain dental embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be applied to adental drill or other tool, and thereupon be displayed at a location andmagnification such as can be made viewable and/or visible to the usersuch as to differentiate between types of matter based at leastpartially on the elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials of or in the matter. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that areoperatively associated with certain tools, tactile providers, etc. neednot be directly connected (or may be removably connected, to the tool,tactile provider, etc.

Certain of the images can also be provided to the patient as well usingthe same or other X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, when attached to a tool performinga desired operation, can act as a double check to ensure the tooth beingimaged by the user is indeed the one that should be dealt with at leastpartially by viewing the actual condition as compared with the expectedcondition. For example, a dentist can check that the correct tooth isbeing drilled by, for example, ensuring a cavity be situated by X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing in a tooththat is being considered to be drilled based at least partially on thedensity, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials ofthe matter. A doctor can ensure the correct arm, leg, or other body partis being treated, etc. There can be a large variety of tools that may beused by such users as surgeons, assistants, veterinarians, dentists,etc. as generally understood to be used in each particular area. It isenvisioned that certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be applied to avariety of tools and/or tactile feedback devices that could benefit byuse with X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, as described in this disclosure.

The location of the drill or other tool including certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100as taken relative to the decayed or damaged portions of the teeth can bedetected on a substantially real-time, intermittent, or as desiredbasis. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to provide tactilefeedback, which in the case of a dentists are dental assistant would beuseful in determining the security of a tooth, the degree of tooth decaywithin a particular tooth, the security of braces, caps, filling, dentalplates, or other device within the individual. By using certain dentalX-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, it may not be necessary for dental patients to useconventional X-ray plates (positioned between the teeth of the personthat has to be bitten down by the person) during dental X-rays therebymaking dental visits more pleasant.

Such dental X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing can be performed substantially parallel to or atsome other angle relative to the tool operation, the path of drilling orcutting, or other tool parameter. As such, the user such as the dentistor dental hygienist can be provided an improved indication of where theyare drilling or treating relative to damaged or decayed teeth. Certainembodiments the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured as clinic, emergency, or home-test kits,by which people could check the state of certain illness shows,sicknesses, injuries, painful or uncertain orthodontia, gum, dental,skin, or other conditions, etc. based at least partially on the density,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials of thematter. The user can thereby be provided with considerable detail as tothe condition of, or decay within the teeth from particularly desiredangles.

Additionally, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can allow X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing of the gums, portion ofteeth hidden by the gum, and other matter and portions within or closeto the mouth that may be useful for dental use. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information therelating to teeth, gums, tongue, blood vessels or pools, or othergeneral aspects, etc. Certain dental embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can operatethrough the cheeks, and as such the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be situated either at partiallyexternal to, or at least partially internal of the at least the portionof the individuals mouth.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide “freezing” or halting motion thestate of certain X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information as desired by the user or operator, or alternatelyas controlled by the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, and/orinformation providing controller. Such freezing of the X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationcan include maintaining an image of the at least the portion of theindividual displayed on the display portion 154 and/or the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Since generating new imagesmay require an application of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 to the at least the portion of theindividual, it may be desired to limit such application of the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120. As such, certainusers can judiciously control the application of X-rays to the at leastthe portion of the individual, the user, and/or others in the vicinityduring the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider.

Certain dental or orthodontia embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 of FIG. 27 can also beused to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide informationrelating to teeth of human individuals wearing braces. It is presentlydifficult, if not impossible, to accurately X-ray image teeth covered bybrace bands, wires, etc. due to the distortions caused by the wires,bands, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can provide visualize, image, orprovide information based on such elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials that differ from those present in the braces,wires, etc., and can therein limit the effect of the braces, wires,fillings, pins, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can provide visualize,image, or provide information using such accuracy and limited spatialscope of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, as to allow X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing from a single uncovered face of a tooth (e.g.,biting surface). As such, certain teeth covered by braces, bands, etccan be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided thereto, potentially from a variety of controllable and/oradjustable angles, positions, etc., during orthodontia treatment thatcan thereby enhance the dental health of the patient during thetreatment. Teeth, dental surfaces, fillings, etc. can be X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided from avariety of angles, positions, etc. based at least partially on theelements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials such as toprovide an improved indication of their configuration, solidity, dentalhealth, etc. The amount of, and reliability of, dental treatment thatcan be performed based at least in part on X-rays can thereby beincreased during orthodontia treatment.

While this disclosure have described certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as beingsubstantially externally-applied devices, it should also be understoodthat certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider can be an at least partially internal device.Such at least partially internal devices can be applied to within the atleast the portion of the individual using a scope, a needle, through anincision, via a normally open opening, and/or via a normally closedopening. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can therefore be integrated at leastpartially a scope devices such as an endoscope embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 28. Such scope-based embodiments could beapplied via normally open openings, incisions, punctures, etc. to theinterior of the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain endoscope embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as illustrated in FIG. 28, caninclude a scope portion 134 or an illumination portion 136, whoseoperation and structure is generally understood to those skilled in thescope arts. The illumination portion 134 could be used to provide the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 as describedelsewhere to the individual, which thereupon can fluoresce. Certainendoscope embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereupon be configured to receive theX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.), viewable and/or visible light, X-ray fluorescencevisualization, image, or provided information from the individual.

The scope embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include a variety of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain embodiments of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can include ascintillator (and/or fluoroscope), perhaps with a photomultiplier asdescribed in this disclosure to amplify a relatively weak viewableand/or visible-light output. Certain embodiments of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can include a fluoroscope asgenerally known in the art which may operate in certain ways similar tothe scintillator (and/or fluoroscope). Certain embodiments of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can include adetector portion in combination with a display portion as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2 in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe at least partially adapted with, or at least partially configured toact as, a variety of tools. Such tools can include, but are not limitedto: a Bovie electrocautery device as generally understood in the art, anablator, a cutter, a scalpel, a saw, a tactile feedback provider, acontact-type probe, a dental drill, a probe, a material adder, amaterial remover, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be configured as being attached a scope,tube, catheter, or other instrument or tool that can be configured to beinserted into the at least the portion of the individual to act as an atleast partially internal device. For example, certain endoscopeembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider can be configured as described with respect to FIG. 28. Certainconfigurations of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be provided with the high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) being situated relative to anendoscope via a surgical implant, and thereby may be similar to otherembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider in certain ways, but with the high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) placed inside the individual.

Certain scope-based embodiments of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, as described with respect toFIG. 28, may be largely applied to an internal portion of the individualsuch as to include an interluminal X-ray source; while other embodimentsof the high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) may beapplied to an external portion of the individual. Certain embodiments ofthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 may be powered by a variety of power sources (traditional ornon-conventional) including, but not limited to, solar cells, batteries,power sources, etc. that may include traditional or untraditional powersources. For example, the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) may be fed by one or more optical fibers, for example topower the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150, the at least one detector portion 152, and/or the atleast one display portion 154. Certain optically fed embodiments of theat least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150may also include automated shutdown or other safety aspects relating toemission of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation. Certain embodimentsof the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 may be implanted within the at least the portion of theindividual such as to allow X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing (using certain embodiments of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151) on a more continuous basis.Such implants of at least portions of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be particularly useful fordifficult to access portions of the body, such as the heart, brain, orcertain other organs or regions of the body, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to control X-ray generationand/or direction at least partially by accelerating or directingelectrons for X-ray production. Such directing the electrons caneffectively reduce X-ray path length, and hence limit multiplefluorescing events. Certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, and/or at least onedetector portion 152 can be configured such as by being placed by ascope or other such device in a normally open opening, normally closedopening, or other lumen, such as colon, esophagus, mouth, throat,stomach, blood vessels, lungs, gut, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can also be applied to cranial, brain, orspinal X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding. It may be difficult to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information within the skull using certain conventionalimaging modalities, as a result of deflections of certainelectromagnetic radiation within the interior (e.g., substantiallyconcave) surface 168 of the skull and the associated distortions.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to access the brain via suchopenings in the skull as the ear sockets, mouth opening, and/or sinuses.Such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingof the brain through such key-hole opening should experience relativelylimited X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding distortion, as compared with X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing at least partially through the skull,bony matter, or other such X-ray distorting or shielding regions.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to be applied to relativelysmall regions of the body, and thereby apply relatively small overalldosages of X-rays. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can be controllably oradjustably applied in small regions, from different angles, etc., thancertain conventional full-scale X-ray or certain conventional tomographyimagers.

For instance, certain X-ray tomography-type X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing imagers can capture aX-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or provide information byscanning a series of scans relatively shallow into the at least somematter of the at least one portion of the individual from a variety ofangles and/or positions. Such scanning can be performed using a varietyof respective the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 and/or X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gammaray, photon, particle, etc.) that can be respectively applied/receivedusing respective arrays of at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 or at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151; or alternately one or more of the respectivehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) and/or the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 that can be moved,scanned, angled, or otherwise repositioned. For instance, the certainarray embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 or at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can be configured to roughly conform to the general shapeof the portion of the individual being imaged, or alternately in someother configuration. As the distinct elements of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 are actuated toprovide the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120,then the corresponding embodiment of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can collect the data corresponding to the X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or provided information for eachelement(s) of the high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)including some unknowns relating to particular X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing limitations. As anumber of the distinct element(s) of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 that direct the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 under differentdirections, positions, energy levels, or other conditions decreases, thenumber of unknowns relating to particular X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing limitations for atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individualcorrespondingly decreases, and a more complete and accurate X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or provided information can beobtained using tomographic techniques.

A similar tomographic technique or embodiment of the of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beapplied to directing at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 or at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 at different positions, angles, energy levels, etc. Suchtechniques can involve physically repositioning and/or angling of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151itself/themselves such as to follow a scan, circular motion around theat least the portion of the individual, or other type of translation,angling, repositioning, changing of energy levels, etc. Alternately, aredirecting device of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 or X-ray fluorescence can be used, such as a filter, lens,modulator, shield, collimator, endoscope or other bendable, movable, ortwistable scope or other high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) could be used in different embodiments, as described in thisdisclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can, by using relatively low energy version ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, providea relatively low-power version of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 which can be highly suited for intracranialX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing andexamination or other radiation-sensitive regions of the human or otherindividual. The power of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle radiation 120 may generally be configured or set at alevel to be insufficient to penetrate, in large numbers, to anotherregion that may not be X-ray fluorescence depth visualized, imaged, orinformation provided. Such would be the case of brain X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing to limittransmission of excessive doses of such high-energy photons as X-rays,gamma rays, etc. to the cranium, brain, brainstem, embryo, or other suchthe region, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information in the brain,or other intracranial tissue. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldoperate with relatively high resolution, or alternately with lowerresolution as desired or designed compared to other imaging modalitiesthat may be similar in resolution and certain other aspects to that ofconventional MRI. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can visualize,image, or provide information based at least partially on the elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials of or in the matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual may provide for a richer ormore indicative visualization, image, or provided information. Certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 can thereby be configured to use mono-energetic,collimated, or other sources. When using at least partially internal(e.g., in-body) embodiments of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, it may be possible to increaseX-ray capture fraction by having multiple in-body detector portions 152,not just a single detector portion associated with the high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion. With the different embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100, it is likely to be desired to limit dosages of X-rays as applied tothe at least the portion of the individual 82 and/or the user (e.g.,physician, dentist, veterinarian, assistant, researcher, etc.).

A variety of embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 can beassociated with the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described at various locations in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152may be considered as functionally associated with the at least onedisplay portion 154, since the at least one display portion may beconfigured to display a version (which may be resized, filtered,scanned, computed, and/or otherwise modified) of what was detected bythe at least one detector portion.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 and/or theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, as included incertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, can be configured of various sizes, shapes,configurations, and may include a single detector portion or an array ofdetector portion elements. For example, those embodiments of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 utilizing adistinct detector portion 152 and 154 as described with respect to FIG.23 differ from those scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly utilizing a combined detectorand display portion as described with respect to FIG. 25. The dimensionsof each detector portion element and/or the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be selected based on suchcriteria as the desired application, usage, and/or the desired ordesigned X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding resolution.

A variety of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information including, but not limited to, tomography X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationcan be constructed by scanning the X-ray radiation received at the atleast one detector portion 152 over a volume of interest of the at leastthe portion of the individual 82. As such, the at least one detectorportion 152 may be considered as detecting the X-ray fluorescence rays,with time-of-flight, spectral, and/or spatial resolution of the X-rayfluorescences or other electromagnetic radiation. Specific X-rayenergies can be used by the at least one detector portion to detectspectral features (e.g., absorption edges or X-ray fluorescence spectra)of specific X-rays received (e.g., X-ray fluorescence) from particularones of the at least the portion of the individual 82. The targetedportion of the individual can be at least partially endogenous, such asbeing produced from within the at least the portion of the individual(such as iron in blood, or calcium in tumors). Alternately, the targetedportion can be at least partially exogenous such as being producedoutside of the at least the portion of the individual (e.g., high-Zcontrast agents that migrate, bind, or are otherwise introduced intoregions of interest). The emitted flux, energy level, or frequency ofeach X-ray photon can be tuned as to detect particular structures,organs, materials, etc. at certain depths and/or regions, as beingdetected by the at least one detector portion 152.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider can thereby capture a series of X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizations, images, and/or provided information, in which theat least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)and/or the at least one detector portion can operate sequentiallyutilizing feedback by the user and/or X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Such control andsubsequent feedback can be used as to alter and/or control the relativeposition, angle, magnification, or other aspect of the subsequent X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or provided information.The initial X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information that have been captured can thereupon be displayedto the user at least partially using the at least one display portion154 and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.The location, magnification, angle, and/or other characteristics of thesubsequent X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information can be determined, at least in part, from theresults of the prior X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information based at least partially on user input.

By allowing capturing of sequentially adjustable X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizations, images, and/or provided information, the usersand/or individuals can observe the at least the portion of theindividual 82 as they may desire. As such, the X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing being performed by theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe adjusted and/or controlled. Consider that with certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,a user such as a physician, dentist, technician, assistant, etc. canobtain some preliminary X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information from certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider to locate adesired examining feature. Thereupon, the X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing can be adjusted insubsequent images such as more closely or more accurately scan orexamine at a desired location, angle, etc., such as to scan or examinefor a cancerous growth, abscesses, infections, etc.

Alternately, the user can use some embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider to locate a desired organ orthe at least the portion of the individual 82. Thereupon, the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing asperformed by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be modified, altered,repositioned, magnified, etc. such as to more closely or more accuratelyexamine some aspect of the desired examining feature at a variety ofangles, positions, magnifications, etc. Each one of the respective atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, atleast one detector portion 152, at least one display portion 154, and/orthe at least one combined detector/display portion 155 (e.g.,scintillator and/or fluoroscope), can be respectively fabricated and/orrespectively formed.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described at a variety of locations throughthis disclosure, may alternately be scintillator-based and/orfluoroscope-based. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may allow feedbacktechniques to allow users and/or X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Such feedbacktechniques may alter and/or control X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing of subsequent X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information based at least inpart on results or user input based on prior captured X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing. Certain embodiments ofthe at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, includingthe at least one display portion 154 as combined with the at least onedetector portion 152, can therefore be configured as a scintillatorand/or fluoroscope, as described with respect to FIG. 25. Withscintillator or fluoroscope embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencereceiving assembly, X-ray photons can be converted to viewable and/orvisible photons as described with respect to this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the scintillators or fluoroscopes can beconfigured including a substance that can absorb such electromagneticradiation as X-rays, and thereupon can fluoresce, or otherwise providesuch as by X-ray fluorescence or other imaging mechanism, viewableand/or visible light (viewable and/or visible photons) at acharacteristic X-ray frequency or energy level depending upon thereceived X-ray radiation. The fluorescing of the viewable and/or visiblelight may, as generally understood by those skilled in the art, beviewed as releasing induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 generated atleast partially from the previously absorbed energy associated withpreviously absorbed applied high energy photon and/or particle 120.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore be configured to includescintillators and/or fluoroscopes can convert the X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) directly toviewable and/or visible light, without associated detectors and displaysassociated with certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certain configurations ofconventional scintillators or fluoroscopes can be configured as opticaldetectors, displays, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, etc. such as described with respect to U.S. Pat.No. 7,057,187 to Yun et al., entitled Scintillator Optical System andMethod of Manufacture (incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety). Certain embodiments of scintillator can be used for medicalX-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingas described with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,077 to Karellas et al.,entitled System and Method for X-Ray Fluoroscopic Imaging (incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety). Certain conventional CAT scannersmay utilize scintillator technology.

It is likely that the scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100might be useful in screening the at least the portion of the individual,perhaps at shallow prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depthsand/or for homogeneous matter (using X-ray fluorescence, or fluoroscopytechniques), for matter or skin aberrations, such as cancers, tumors,abscesses, infections, lesions, etc. As such, the user might scan theusers for such aberrations that might occur near the surface 168, andthe image processing associated with X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing such aberration withparticular concern about processing X-ray fluorescences at differentprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth being limited.

Certain scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may becharacterized in this disclosure by the characteristics of theirviewable and/or visible photonic output. The characteristics of theirviewable and/or visible photonic output can include, but are not limitedto, e.g., strength, energy level, and/or frequency of emitted viewableand/or visible photons as a function of absorbed X-ray electromagneticradiation, X-ray fluorescence decay times, and/or optical transparencyat wavelengths of their emitted viewable and/or visible electromagneticradiation and/or other such factors. Scintillators (and/or fluoroscopes)may thereby be considered as operating by translating X-rayelectromagnetic radiation into viewable and/or visible lightelectromagnetic radiation. As such, at least certain X-rays detected bythe at least one detector portion 152 may be viewed by the user (orindividual) without the necessity of at least one distinct displayportion(s) 154.

The lower the decay time of certain embodiments of the scintillatorand/or fluoroscopes (i.e., the shorter the duration of its flashes ofX-ray fluorescence), the less so-called “dead time” or delay thedetector portion will have and the more ionizing events per unit of timeit will be able to detect. The excited atoms can thereupon lose some ofthis excess energy resulting from the dead time by emitting someviewable and/or visible photons. The amount of viewable and/or visiblelight produced by the scintillator and/or fluoroscope (and thereby theintensity of viewable and/or visible light output by the displayportion) can, in certain embodiments, be amplified by a“photomultiplier” that is operationally included in the scintillatorand/or fluoroscope. Certain embodiments of the scintillator and/orfluoroscope of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 25,can include the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151including a combined detector portion 152 and/or display portion 154.Such combined embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information based at least in part on the received photons X-rayfluorescence off the at least the portion of the individual.

The scintillator-based and/or fluoroscope-based embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beuseful to provide real-time or near real time X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of the at least theportion of the individual. Additionally, certain scintillator-basedand/or fluoroscope-based embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to beadjusted to alter subsequent X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing based on user or controller feedback, or othersuch aspects. For example, a region that is being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have information provided can be modified,angled, magnified, filtered, etc. such as to provide closer examinationor X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.Certain “scintillator” and/or fluoroscope embodiments of X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can becomputationally intensive, while other embodiments can view the imagedirectly. By angling the emission of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 by the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, the reception of the X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) by the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151,certain ambiguity as to the shape or configurations or aberrations,junctions, dissimilarities, etc. of the matter can be determined. Suchangling, etc. can be provided either visually by the user, or by usingimage process techniques by the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97.

Certain scintillator and/or fluoroscope embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilizesuch optical processing “downstream” of the scintillator to limitdistortion effects, etc. Examples of such “optical” signal processingtechniques can include filtering, amplifications, distortion limiting,optical signal processing, optical image processing, etc.

Certain scintillator and/or fluoroscope embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can therebybe fabricated from, and therefore include, certain materials which can“convert” an X-ray photon to a viewable and/or visible photon. Certainembodiments of scintillators and/or fluoroscopes can additionallyamplify a relatively weak photonic X-ray signal such as by utilizing aphotomultiplier (typically for each scintillator and/or fluoroscopeelement). One advantage of amplifying a relatively weak photonic signalis that an adequate X-ray fluorescence depth visualization, image, orprovided information can be obtained while subjecting the patient to amuch lower dose of X-rays. Certain embodiments of Charge Coupled Devices(CCDs) may be associated with certain embodiments of the at least onedetector portion 152 and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151. Such embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 may be referred to in thisdisclosure as scintillators, fluoroscopes, film screens, orscintillation counters. Certain embodiments of scintillators and/orfluoroscopes may thereby be considered as direct semiconductor detectorportions since they may not be largely computational-based to deriveX-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation. Certain embodiments of scintillators and/or fluoroscopescan be generated using signal amplification or computer amplificationtechniques.

Certain exemplary embodiments of scintillators and/or fluoroscopes maybe configured as semiconductor detector portions 152, which may be basedon converting X-ray photons to electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor,and the electron-hole pairs are thereupon obtained to detect the X-rays.It may be is possible to directly determine the X-ray energy spectrumusing so-called called energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; and suchtechniques may additionally be used in small X-ray fluorescencespectrometers. These detector portions are sometimes called “soliddetectors”. Medical X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing applications using scintillators and/orfluoroscopes that can rely on the concept that certain semiconductordiodes will thereby produce a small amount of current when placed in anX-ray radiation.

Certain types of silicon drift detectors (SDDs), such as may be producedby semiconductor fabrication, can provide a relatively high resolvingX-ray radiation detection measurement, and thereby be useful for certainembodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151. Certain scintillators and/or fluoroscopes, when combined withsemiconductor detectors, can provide indirect detection of X-rayradiation. With the advent of large semiconductor array detectors it hasbecome possible to design detector systems using a scintillator and/orfluoroscope screen to convert from X-rays to viewable and/or visiblelight which is then converted to electrical signals in an arraydetector, such as may be used to provide visibility to the human eye.Such signal processing and image processing techniques as filtering,amplifying, resizing, etc. can be applied to scintillator-based and/orfluoroscope-based embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, such as to improve X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can be dispersive such as to apply X-raybased electromagnetic radiation at the at least the portion of theindividual 82; such as may thereupon be detected by certain embodimentsof the at least one detector portion 152. As such, certain portions ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be associated with or include the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150; while certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe associated with or include the at least one detector portion 152.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to the at least the portionof the individual that is physically separated from the surface 168 ofthe at least the portion of the individual. Such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can rely on imagecombination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight, imagetransformation, deconvolution, image subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, and group including inverse integral transform,subtractive inverse integral transform, inverse functional transform,and subtractive inverse functional transform, or other such imageprocessing techniques). The quality of such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can improve if thematter being imaged becomes more consistent across the thickness of theimaged portion 352 (e.g., horizontally across the thickness 352 as shownin FIG. 20). As such, as the thickness 352 of the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth becomes thinner, and itsconsistency across the thickness becomes more uniform, its X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingconsistency generally increases and the associated quality and/orreliability of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing quality generally increases.

Selection or control of a desirable or suitable thickness to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, of provide information relating toparticular matter (e.g., tissue, bones, teeth, etc.) within a particulartype of individual may depend, at least in part, on empirical results.For example, scanning skin, muscle, or other tissue across, may beperformed in relatively thick X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,or information providing slices as compared with X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing bone parts,nodules, or other matter that has a considerable amount of void space ormay be inconsistent across its imaged thickness based at least partiallyon at least one element of the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. Suitable data, information, X-ray fluorescencevisualizations, images, etc. pertaining at least partially to X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of certaintypes of matter can be stored in the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, and/or information providing controller 97 (e.g., in a memory,database, or other suitable location), as described with respect to FIG.1 or 2. Or alternately, the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or provided information can be provided as a written reference to theusers and/or operators of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, such as could be accessed and/or set by theuser and/or operator.

There may be a variety of surgical applications of certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 that are now described with respect to FIGS. 29 and 30. Theparticular suitable applications for certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may bedependent upon the frequency, energy, or other characteristics of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, as well as theenergy level and frequency of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 can be used for the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,for example, can be particularly suited or configured for treatmentand/or examination near the surface 168 such as skin of the at least theportion of the individual 82, with normal skin being illustrated in FIG.29. By comparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be particularlysuited or configured for treatment and/or examination of at least aportion of the individual; even if the portion of the matter being X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided is spaced aconsiderable depth distance from a surface into matter of the individual82 (as illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 25). This may be the case fortreating person wishing to examine or locate a particular individual'sorgan(s), bone(s), and/or other regions that may be situated subsurfaceutilizing the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth from the surface 168.

For example, certain X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be utilized to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information relating to some matteraberrations, such as to a tumor, abscess, tissue contour, etc. (such asmay be useful to resect the X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orinformation provided aberration). Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to control or adjust the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth during resection of a tumor or aberrative matter. This may beaccomplished by varying the energy level, frequency, or othercharacteristics of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 (which may require reconfiguring of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150). Such resectioncan be accomplished in certain instances by allowing the surgeon toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relatingto tissue margins of the tumor using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 based onits differential matter density and/or the element of the at least theportion of the individual. The differential matter density and/or theelemental composition may, in certain instances, be either endogenous tothe tissue, or enhanced by a contrast agent which may not otherwise beviewable and/or visible using normal human visual observation.

This use of certain X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation providers 100 therefore could allow the surgeon to resect alesion, tumor, etc. while limiting harm and manipulation (or evenremoval) to adjacent healthy matter or tissue, such as may be indicatedbased at least partially on the matter density and/or the elementcomposition of the matter. This can be useful in X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing organs such as thebrain that are particularly sensitive to harm, manipulation, or removalof mater. Additionally, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 might be configured toallow the user (e.g., surgeon or assistant) to view the matteraberration of the matter at a number of different angles. By allowingthe viewing at different angles, etc., it may be easier for the user toappreciate the shape of the aberration, as well as its proximity toadjacent structures such as nerves, blood vessels, or other sensitive orother areas during particular operations or procedures. By limitingmanipulation, bruising, contact, or removal, etc. of sensitive matterduring particular operations and/or procedures, certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100might likely be configured or designed to perform more radical surgeriesor procedures (that might hurt the patient using other imagingtechniques) than presently allowable.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to the depth ofcertain layers of the at least the portion of the individual near thesurface 168 (e.g., skin) as described with respect to FIG. 29. This maybe used to examine or X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to the depth of aberrative matter such astumors in skin or other tissue or matter as described with respect toFIG. 30. With certain conventional imaging techniques, boundaries and/ordepth from the surface 168 may not be clear between different types ofmatter (such as aberrative matter or tissue and normal matter or tissue,different types of cells, etc.). With X-ray based technologies, such ascertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, certain types of aberrative matter such ascertain cancers, tumors, etc. can be detected as a result of theassociated calcification of the matter of the cancers, tumors, etc.

For example, it is likely that the calcified aberrative matter or tissueof such aberrative matter as breast cancer nodules in skin will absorb aconsiderable amount of the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation beingapplied as compared to the non-cancerous matter. As such, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to indicate outlines, depths, regions,volumes, or other such aberrative matter based on aberrative X-rayand/or photonic characteristics of the aberrative matter as compared tothe normal matter (e.g., tissue). Additionally, aberrative matter alsomay have different contrast enhancing properties from normal matter. Anexample being a brain tumor can reduce the effectiveness of the bloodbrain barrier, and thereby absorb certain contrast agents to have X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providedcharacteristics unlike adjacent brain tissue.

Certain users using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be used to moreeasily detect or X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to certain aberrative matter, etc. Such ease ofdetection can allow for more easily location of a position, extent,depth, and/or other aspects of the aberrative matter such as can enhancesimplification or effectiveness of examination, removal, and/ortreatment thereof. Removal of certain aberrative matter can be performedusing certain matter removal techniques that may or may not be performedby certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider, or associated equipment, including but not limitedto: surgical cutting techniques, abrasive techniques, ablativetechniques (such as laser ablation), etc.

Consider that certain surgeons, doctors, veterinarians, dentists, etc.may wish to completely locate and remove all (or at least as much aspracticable), or only portion of a particular amount of such aberrationsas aberrative or undesired matter interspersed in normal matter ortissue (such as a tumor interspersed in tissue, a cavity interspersed ina tooth, etc.). For example, it may be desired to remove a melanoma(i.e., skin cancer) completely as described with respect to FIG. 30 (orother skin aberration), while leaving behind as much matter or tissue aspracticable. Certain cancers, for example, may spread in a dispersivemanner through some tissue, blood, bones, or other matter. As such, itmay be desired to allow for visualizing, imaging, or providing in amanner that can precisely locate and identify (and/or perhaps evenremove, ablate, or otherwise treat) the matter based at least partiallyon the element composition of the matter being analyzed, screened, ortreated.

It may be desirable to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to the aberrative matter (e.g., associatedwith the melanoma, tumor, etc.) one or more subsequent times such as todetermine its precise extent. An initial X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing scan may be useful inlocating regions where certain matter aberrations such as melanomas mayexist, and subsequent X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, and/orinformation providing scans may be applied to each potential locatedaberration as to be useful in determining the depth or extent of eachaberration such as to act as a biopsy, etc. In addition, certaintomography type or volumetric type embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be used to map ordetermine, as accurately as practical or desirable, such aberrations,etc. Certain skin aberrations may include aberrative cells, colonies ofcells, growths, or other dissimilar matter as compared to neighboringnormal matter, and the aberrative (e.g., cancerous) matter can be basedat least partially on the depth to which it has developed. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to determine a depth of dissimilar matterfeature within the at least one normal matter.

Additionally, a brain tumor might be suitable for being X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided by certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, including those embodiments of surgical tools includingthe X-ray fluorescence depth visualizer, imager, tactile feedbackprovider, or information provider 100 that can resect the tumor. Assuch, the tumor can be resected, with limited adjacent brain tissue thatis not infiltrated with tumor effected by the resection. A low gradeglioma is one example of a tumors which the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may assist in visuallydifferentiating.

If the feature of an aberration or dissimilar mater, such as a tumor,cancerous matter, tooth decay, abscesses, infections, etc. is notremoved completely, the aberration may continue to grow. Suchaberrations as cancer or tumors may even grow uncontrollably, and evenmetastasize. The surgeon may not be able to determine the depth from avisual inspection or even one-time imaging techniques that use certainconventional imagers. An aberrative growth could be quickly examined,and the depth of the aberrative growth could be reliably determined by askilled user utilizing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. A dissimilar matterrepresenting an aberration such as a melanoma, if not treated and/orremoved in time, may thereby grow to an extent to be dangerous or evendeadly.

The depth of certain matter aberrations such as melanomas may correspondto their seriousness. For example, if a melanoma has reached below aparticular depth 362 as described with respect to FIG. 30, then theprobability that it has metastasized may increase considerably. As such,there are a variety of medical situations that vital information as tothe seriousness of a patient's condition could be obtained relativelyand accurately using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. By utilizing a seriesof successive images, such aberrations or abnormalities as melanomascould be examined from a variety of angles, magnifications, and/orpositions such as to make certain of their extent. It is likely that atleast certain melanomas, breast cancers, other tumors or cancers, etc.can be imaged relative to adjacent matter either based on differentdensities of the dissimilar matter or alternately using certain contrastagent and/or fluoroscopy techniques.

As such, FIG. 29 shows an example of a partial cross-sectional view ofnormal matter such as skin; while matter such as skin including adissimilar matter a melanoma is shown in FIG. 30. Normal skin, forexample, is typically made up of layers, including the epidermis 370 andthe dermis 372. As illustrated in FIG. 30, a skin aberration or tumorsuch as a melanoma 360 can develop within the skin, and can be measuredby a number of quantitative systems, two of which are referred to as“Breslow Depth” and “Clark's Levels”. Breslow Depth quantifies thetop-to-bottom measurement of the melanoma in millimeters, similar to asshown by the arrow 362 in FIG. 30. By comparison, Clark's Levelsdescribe how far the melanoma has extended into the particular layers ofthe skin. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure,can therefore be used to determine the characteristics of a melanomausing the Breslow Depth and/or the Clark's Level. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100as can be applied to aberrative matter, such as tumors such asmelanomas, are intended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting inscope. Determination of a suitable matter thickness or X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing based onelement composition may relate to slice thickness for X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing may pertain to thelikely presence or absence of matter aberrations or inconsistencies.

As such, by viewing a matter aberration such as a tumor or cancer at anumber of angles, positions, magnifications, thicknesses, etc. usingcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 30, it islikely that the true extent, depth, and condition of their growth can bedetermined. Such re-examination or subsequent X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of the at least theportion of the individual 82 can be performed at a desired angle,position, etc. Such re-examination (perhaps while providing forexamination or scanning for different elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials, etc.) can be based or selected, at least inpart, on input from the user, the individual, or a controller orcomputerized portion such as to closely examine those regions ofinterest under a suitable magnification, angle, position, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, orprovide information relating to such non-tissue matter as blood, bone,etc. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be applied to leukemia (one typeof cancer of the blood), lymphoma (one type of cancer of the lymphnodes), Hodgkins disease, myeloma other blood, lymph, bone, or othercancers, infections, impurities, sicknesses, etc. based at leastpartially on the element composition.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can rely on advantages of X-ray technology.X-ray technology may provide advantages of being well developed,researched, understood, trusted, etc. X-ray technology can be lessexpensive than certain other X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing technologies. While certain aspects of X-rayfluorescence technology may be less developed than conventional X-ray(e.g., transmissive) technologies, both types of X-ray technologies canbe utilized in a variety of medical or non-medical applicationsincluding, but not limited to, medical, examination, surgery,geological, security, structural, and other technologies.

By allowing subsequent controllable X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing as is the case with certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 as described in this disclosure, the users such asphysicians, surgeons, dentists, etc. can interactively examine the atleast the portion of the individual 82, in a manner as desired. Forexample, after a desired at least the portion of the individual 82 islocated by an initial X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, and/orinformation providing scan, subsequent X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing scan(s) can further or more closelyexamine the located portion. With certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider, the at leastthe portion of the individual with at least part of their body partbeing examined can interactively X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information relating to their condition using subsequentX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing ifthe output/display is provided to the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Such subsequent X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing can be performed on a variety ofmatter in the at least the portion of the individual.

As with a variety of radiographic X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing techniques, and particularly thoseutilizing X-rays, it is important to consider the dosage effects ofcertain electromagnetic radiation provided by the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to the at least theportion of the individual and/or the user. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relatingto a series of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information sequentially, on a real time basis, at a variety ofresolutions, or over a large or small portion of the individual. Byjudicious X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the radiation doses asapplied to the at least the portion of the individual and/or the usercan be limited considerably, particularly as compared with manyconventional X-ray imaging modalities.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are configured to image by allowing X-rays topass into, X-ray fluorescence from, and return from a localized organ,matter, etc. Conventional transmissive X-ray devices, by comparison,typically pass through the entire thickness of the at least the portionof the individual being imaged. For example, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe configured by X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing a first general area, and thereupon depending uponthe initial X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or providedinformation. A relatively minor number of X-ray fluorescencevisualizations, images, and/or provided information (perhaps localizedto small regions) can be examined to consider in considerable degree,for example, one or more regions of interest that have been located bythe initial depth interest. Such subsequent X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information may be configured tolimit exposure of the at least the portion of the individual or the userto the doses of the original X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information.

By allowing subsequent X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing with certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the condition of the atleast the portion of the individual may be clearly imaged and/orexamined to determine the condition of the at least the portion of theindividual. In certain instances, perhaps less drastic treatment (e.g.,radiation therapy, chemotherapy) and/or less imaging, X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, and/or tests may need to be applied to the at least theportion of the individual based on the more complete or accurate X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or provided information results.Such results may be obtained by (or the relatively precise locating,X-ray fluorescence visualizing, and/or imaging of) certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100. In certain instances, perhaps the growths, once clearly examined,can be more accurately treated such as by direct treatment of therelevant location, ablation, etc.

A variety of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation (applied,returning/reflected, etc.) can be utilized for X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing purposes when X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing the atleast the portion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, asdescribed with respect to this disclosure, the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can apply an the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 to the at least theportion of the individual. FIG. 23 shows one representative embodimentof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providerapplying the X-ray (photonic-based electromagnetic radiation) down tothe at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth within the at least the portion ofthe individual 82 (e.g., human, shown in cross section).

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can thereby be positioned relative tothe at least the portion of the individual 82, either at least partiallyinternally or at last partially externally to the individual. Certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) can be configurable to emit the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 for a controllable depth into thematter of the at least the portion of the individual 82. The subsequentX-ray fluorescence (X-ray fluorescence from the at least one appliedhigh energy photon) can be detected by the at least one detector portion152 and/or the at least one display portion. The X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, and/or provided information relating toinformation can thereby be derived at least partially in response toX-ray fluorescence of the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation.

The at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to generate at least someof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120, thatcan be applied and/or directed to the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Some of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can be applied by the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 such as to at leastpartially penetrate into the at least the portion of the individual.During such instances as when penetrating into matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual 82, the X-ray based electromagneticradiation of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 can be at least partially deflected, at least partially X-rayfluorescence, and/or at least partially passed through the at least theportion of the individual 82. X-ray fluorescence (at a variety ofangles) of at least some of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can result in detection of the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon 122 (based at least partially on elementcomposition of the matter) which can be detected by certain embodimentsof the at least one detector portion 152, and/or the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.

Certain examples of the other matter that can effect the X-rayfluorescence can include, for example: tissue, bones, portions of bones,metal, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured for X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing matter notnormally associated with X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing. Such would be the case with locating interfacesbetween two different types of matter including, but not limited to:“normal” or “regular” opaque matter (such as tissue), as compared withother aberration matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to combine X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing at least partially bycombining information obtained from the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 with image information from anothersource (e.g., MRI, conventional X-rays, other X-ray fluorescence-basedsystems or portions thereof, other embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, etc.). Suchcombinations may take the form or function, for example, of depth,position, varying X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing modalities, etc.; and may include previouslygathered X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing information.

Certain of such combined embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be useful for instance where theimaging capabilities of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be more limited such as to produce areal-time X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, and thereupon integrating more detail imaging from otherimaging modalities. Although certain aspects of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, images, or provided information of particular matter suchas tissue, organs, bones, or other portions of the individuals may notprecisely match between certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 and the otherconventional X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding modalities, it is likely that each visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing modality could be expected to be particularlyuseful for particular applications, illnesses, injuries, infections,conditions, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may also be configured as to be able to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information at a suitable rateconsidering the matter being imaged and/or the ability of the user to beable to view the distortions. There might be a variety of distortions ofthe matter which may be particularly useful to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information. For example, certain surgeonsmight be particularly interested in considering the rate at which theheart beating causes deformation of the heart muscle, or alters bloodflow through portions of the heart such as the aorta, valves, etc. Bycomparison, other surgeons may be interested in considering somewhatslower motion of their patients, such as how changes in the bodyposition (e.g., leg or arm position) may be reflected in variation inthe associated skeletal bones between successive X-ray fluorescencedepth visualization, imaging, or providing information. Certain dentistsor orthodontists might be interested in how movement of the jaw can bereflected by changes in the bite of the teeth of their patients.

As described with respect to FIG. 23, certain embodiments of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 canapply at least one the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 at a desired, or controllable, angle. The X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing angleof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120radiation may range from almost parallel, but still incident, to asurface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual 82, tosubstantially perpendicular to the surface 168 of the at least theportion of the individual 82, and any angle there between). Thecharacteristics of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 may include, but are not limited to, a suitable and/ordesired position, power, frequency, energy level, duration, as well as avariety of other such characteristics.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to include at least onedetector portion 152 and/or display portion 154 that can be operable tobe at least partially inserted into the at least the portion of theindividual. Such configurations can be used to receive at least oneX-ray fluorescence that has been X-ray fluorescence in an at least oneopaque matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Certainembodiments of the detector portion can be configured to be adjustable,alignable, scannable, or otherwise modifiable; and may include suchscopes as endoscopes that may alternately be inserted through insertionor normally open opening of the individual as is generally understood bythe use of an endoscope.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 might preferably be configured as combined detectorportion/display portions as described in this disclosure, such that theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, and/or information provider mightsuitably change as the user moves their vantage point, etc. relative tothe at least the portion of the individual. It may be desired to reduceor limit the involved computation associated with X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing. By comparison,those embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 involved in X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing relatively deep into theat least the portion of the individual may include the distinct detectorportions and display portions. Additionally, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe applied in the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at leastone prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth relatively near thesurface 168. Recall that such image combining may utilize imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution, imagesubtraction, weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and groupincluding inverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integraltransform, inverse functional transform, and subtractive inversefunctional transform, or other such image processing techniques. Suchdistinct detector portions and display portions may be configured tocomputationally differentiate images, X-ray fluorescence visualizations,information, etc. using certain image information. Additionally, suchcomputationally complex X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing displays as time of flight embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (orhigh resolution display portions) may benefit from the distinct detectorportions and display portions, which may also simplify the associatedimage processing. These design choices are intended to be illustrativein nature, but not limiting in scope.

Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 may be situated withinthe at least the portion of the individual 82, adjacent to the at leastthe portion of the individual 82, or external to the at least theportion of the individual 82. Either one detector portion 152, or aplurality of detector portions, may be provided either within the atleast the portion of the individual 82, adjacent to the at least theportion of the individual 82, and/or external to the at least theportion of the individual 82.

Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least one displayportion 154 can be configured to display the X-ray based electromagneticradiation such as it has at least been partially received from the atleast the portion of the individual 82 by the at least one detectorportion. As such, certain embodiments of the at least one displayportion 154 can be configured to display X-ray illumination that can beX-ray fluorescence at least partially from the at least the portion ofthe individual 82. Such X-ray fluorescence illumination can be based onthe X-ray fluorescence based electromagnetic radiation that can bedetected by the at least one detector portion 152.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can include a variety of the at least one display portion154. Certain embodiments of the display portion 154 can take a varietyof forms that can include, but are not limited to: a cathode ray tube(CRT) display portion, a liquid crystal display portion (LCD) displayportion, a personal display or information provider portion (configuredto display to one person), a glasses-based display portion, a groupdisplay or information provider portion (that can display X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationto more than one person), a plasma display portion, a medical displayportion, a computer display portion, a personal display assistant (PDA)display portion, or such other displays that can at least partiallyprovide a display of at least the portion of the individual based atleast in part on the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122.

The selection as to whether the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 includes distinct detector portions and displayportions, or combined detector portion/display portions can be based atleast partially based on functionality and/or desired computation. Forexample, certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing applications involving depth imaging, X-rayfluorescence visualizing, or providing information from the surface 168to the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 may be referred to as surgeon's glasses that can be wornby an individual surgeon or doctor, or other configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 31. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured aspersonal devices, which can thereby be used primarily by one person. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be used as group devices such ascan be used by two or more persons or users. Particularly, FIG. 31 showsone embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 including an embodiment of the at least onedisplay portion 154 configured as a personal display (in this instance,surgeon glasses, dentist glasses, veterinarian glasses, etc.), asdescribed in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can therebybe configured as augmented vision glasses. For instance, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize glasses, such as can be worn by surgeons inwhich at least a portion of the glasses can be configured as a display,such display portion could be viewed by the user. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information provided asprovided by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be optically aligned to theuser. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can therefore be configured as an X-rayfluorescence device is used to deliver a real-time 2D or 3D X-rayfluorescence depth visualization, image, or information to the surgeon.The X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations or images can be presentedto the surgeon by means of an external monitor, head-mounted display, orstereoscopic projection. The surgeon can select the depth (frommillimeters to substantially through the X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or have information provided portion of the individual 82) atwhich the X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, or providedinformation is taken, captured, etc.; the selected depth can be targetedby tuning the intensity, energy level, or frequency of the X-ray photonsin the X-ray radiation.

There may be a variety of configurations and/or utilizations of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. For example, certain personalized embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can presentX-ray fluorescence depth visualization, image, or information to atleast one person particularly associated with the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider, similar to as describedwith respect to FIG. 31. Certain personalized embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to be worn as personal devices, such that each of the atleast the portion of the individual 82 can obtain the X-ray fluorescencedepth visualization, image, or information of the at least the portionof the individual 82 in a manner similar to glasses. For instance, inthe embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 31, the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 canbe situated proximate the glasses-based embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (e.g., onthe frame); adhered to the user at a remote location from the glasses(e.g., on cloth, clothes, fabric, metal, or other material); oralternatively situated at a remote location from the user.

Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 31, can thereby be described as surgeons'glasses. The terms surgeon's glasses or surgical glasses is intended tobe illustrative and not limiting since these devices can be worn by theuser and illustrate X-ray fluorescence visualizations and/or images, aswell as provide information, to the user or other person. Certainsurgical glass embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may or may not contain optical glasses atall. Certain surgical glasses are understood to perhaps include anadditional display portion (which may function as typical opticalglasses) such as can be viewed by a surgeon, or alternatively may beprovided as only a frame without the optical glasses. Certainembodiments of the surgical glasses, can include, for example, at leastone liquid crystal display (LCD), at least one light emitting diode(LED) or an embodiment of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 that can be secured by a variety of mechanisms to nearbyare to the user, such as can be viewed by the user. With surgeon'sglasses, a variety of display portions can be provided to surgeons, etc.through a portion of glasses, while other portions of the glasses allowthe surgeon to see during the operation.

By comparison, a number of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could include at leastone display portion 154 can be configured as a group display orinformation provider portion. For example, FIG. 32 illustrates aninstance in which a number of users could view selected portion(s) ofthe individual through a group display 154, as described in thisdisclosure such as could be viewed by a number of users. For instance,the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can include an LCD display portion, a CRT display portion, a televisiondisplay portion, a medical display portion, or other applicableembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider.

Certain of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120, that are generated and/or applied to the at least the portion ofthe individual 82 by certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, may thereupon after atleast partially passing into the at least the portion of the individual82 be subsequently X-ray fluorescence and/or deflected. Such X-rayfluorescence and/or deflection can thereupon be detected by the at leastone detector portion 152, as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, can include a considerable number of detectorportions 152 positioned, for example, around an operation or examinationroom in which the individual 82 is situated. The particular arrangementof a number of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 is largely considered to be a design choice.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to be adjustable, tunable,and/or controllable. Such adjustability, tunability, and/orcontrollability can be used to adjust the energy level or frequency ofthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120; andthereby affect the depth of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing, into the at least some matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual. Certain external embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may beconfigured to be non-contact, with a probe of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or probe of thedetector portion 152 that does not contact the surface 168 of the matterof the at least the portion of the individual. Other embodimentsadjustable, tunable, and/or controllable do permit contact of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150probe and/or detector portion 152 probe with the matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can providea number of modalities of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging,or information providing (traditional X-ray images, X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing, etc.) including, butnot limited to, density and elemental X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing mode. Certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured to provide considerable contrast, and thereby maybe less dependent on such variables as user skill in X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to combine image informationwith that being performed by different imagers that can produce imagesin one or a variety of different formats and configurations. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be applied externally or internally, such as describedrelative to certain locations in this disclosure. Certain externalconfigurations of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize either full-body tomography imagingenclosures or partial body tomography imaging enclosures, similar to asgenerally used during MRIs, CAT scans, PET scans, Compton backscatteringdevices, etc. By comparison, certain embodiments of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 for certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be positioned around the room where the individual is situated. Suchconfigurations can be configured to improve the application of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 towards the atleast the portion of the individual being imaged. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider couldbe used to obtain a CAT-grade or PET-grade tomography scan, based atleast in part on the configuration and structure of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be configured to provide X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing flexibility, aswell as to conform to the at least the portion of the individual beingimaged as described with respect to FIG. 32. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe attached to a flexible securing member (perhaps even being attachedto the individual using belts, Velcro, straps, or some other knownfastener), such as can be used to limit relative displacements betweenthe X-ray fluorescence visualizing components and the at least theportion of the individual. For example, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as a fabric or jointed sleeve that can be at least partiallytied to, worn by, or attached to surround the at least part of thepatient, as described with respect to FIG. 32. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider canbe embedded in, or attached to, clothing, fabric, or other material thatcan be made distinctly for each individual, or can be used by a numberof individuals. Such flexible attachment members may be especiallydesirable for monitoring or examining, or otherwise X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or providing information relating to particularportion or organ of the individual, such as the heart, brain, or otherorgans, tissue, or other matter.

For example, at least portions of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be applied to securing elementswhich can be maintained or secured with respect to the at least theportion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be flexibly appliedto a more extensive portion of the individual such as the torso; or asmaller portion of the individual such as an arm, leg, finger, etc.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can at least partially include a sleeve orother flexible portion that at least partially be affixed to and/orsurrounds the individual. For example, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to limit relative motion between at least one portion of theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 relative to theat least the portion of the individual. By limiting the relative motionbetween the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 and/or the at least at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 with respect to the at least the portion of theindividual, a number of aspects of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing can be improved, such as clarity andperhaps improved resolution.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to act as a shield to limittransmission of X-rays outside of the at least the portion of theindividual. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 (particularly those flexibleconfigurations as described with respect to FIG. 32) can be configuredto include X-ray shielding material to shield users and/or individualsfrom the X-rays. Consider that the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described in this disclosurecould include an X-ray shielding material such as could limit excessivestray X-rays from passing away towards the user such as a doctor,veterinarian, etc. Such users may be exposed to a higher total dosage ofX-rays after X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing a number of individual patients, etc., as comparedwith the individuals who are seldom imaged. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 mayalso shield at least some of the X-rays from passing to the at least theportion of the individual. In certain instances, such shielding may beremovable, replaceable, and/or shiftable such as to shield at leastcertain portions of the individual at one or more locations depending onwhich at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 and/or detector portions 152 are being utilized.

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least one detector portion152 can thereby be configured as a hand-held and positional device asdescribed with respect to FIG. 34 such as can be positioned and/or usedby the user, the individual, or another person. It is envisioned that atleast portions of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredsimilar to a computer mouse (e.g., in dimension and/or position), suchas to allow a user to position the device from a useful (and/ornon-obstructive) user-selectable vantage point relative to theindividual. Certain hand-held devices can transmit data to otherdetector or display devices, such as can be displayed over displays,glasses, plasma, or a variety of at least portions of certainembodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151.

Certain portable or repositionable embodiments of at least portions ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can utilize wireless and/or wired-based communications relative to othercontroller and/or computer portions associated therewith to effect datatransfer, image transfer, etc. Alternately, certain embodiments of theconstant X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or informationprovided 100 can include the display and/or simulator as to provide forX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, and/or provide informationdirectly there from. Certain user-selectable positionable X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could besecurable in position by some securement or locking structure relativeto the matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Suchsecurement or fastener techniques can be used to limit excessive motionof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 relative to the at least the portion of the individual and/orimprove X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding capability or quality of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider. As such, the high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) could be positioned and located as desired.Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 could include a mount that might holdthe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 in position, such as might limit the displacements of the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) to improve the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcapabilities of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. By providing a hand-held and/or positionabledevice, certain users can obtain a desired X-ray fluorescence depthvisualization or image at a desired location without while the remainderof the user remains in a desired viewing or other position and/orlocation.

With certain hand-held positionable embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, relatively quickfeedback rates may be particularly desirable for X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing. Certain hand-held,positionable, or movable devices may also be useful in providing X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing at avariety of locations and/or angles of the individual such as may becontrolled or adjusted by the user, the individual, a machine (e.g.,robot), or another person.

The at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 and/or detector portion 152 can thereby be configured as a remotedevice, or even a movable device such as can be a hand-held device(perhaps similar in size or shape as a computer mouse, or a digitalcamera as described with respect to FIG. 34). Such movable, framesecured, securable, or other embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can thereby provide theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/orreceive X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) from desired or controllable positionable locations. Forinstance, a doctor could position certain embodiments of the high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) adjacent the at least theportion of the individual 82, such that particular subsurface regions ofthe at least the portion of the individual can be illuminated by orreceive the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation adjacent the at leastthe portion of the individual 82. Such controllability orpositionability of X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing can be performed in a similar manner as a user ofa flashlight might apply the flashlight to certain locations tooptionally illuminate particular regions at which the flashlight isdirected based at least partially on element composition of the at leastsome matter. Similarly, a physician might position the at least onedetector portion 152 in close proximity to the portion(s) of theindividual being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or informationprovided based at least partially on element composition of the at leastsome matter. By comparison, certain embodiments of the high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) can be configured as applyinga relatively disperse X-ray source that can generally apply X-raysagainst large regions (or at least regions of interest) of the at leastthe portion of the individual 82. Different embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (i.e.,surgeon positioning and/or region of room filling embodiments of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150,etc.) can be used separately or in combination, and are intended to beillustrative in nature but not limiting in scope.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 and/or the display can be positioned in close proximityto the at least the portion of the individual, as described with respectto FIG. 35. For example, the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 that is X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing a bone in a forearm may be positioned adjacent theforearm, perhaps even in a position that may be viewable by the userand/or the user. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilize at least onefiducial 1052 to assist in locating the X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or information provided portion. The embodiments of the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 as described withrespect to FIG. 36 can be configured for X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing relatively deep portionsof the individual, such as skeletal systems, organs, certain internalblood vessels, etc. based at least partially on element composition ofthe at least some matter. It is likely that such embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 thatact deep into the matter of the individual based at least partially onelement composition of the at least some matter can also apply the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 including atleast some X-ray photons having sufficient energy level that can passdeep into the individual. Such deep X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing would likely utilize the imageprocessing techniques as described with respect to FIGS. 33 and 34, forexample.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described with respect to FIGS. 35 and 36,can include a framework 3010 and be configured such as to contain atleast the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 (notshown in these figures). Certain embodiments of the framework can beused to be positioned by the user, or secured by a securing device(rigid frame, arm, flexible belt, strap, or other). As described withrespect to FIG. 36 and at other locations through the disclosure, thematter aberration 360 can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orinformation provided such as can be provided or enhanced based at leastpartially on the elemental composition (or chemical composition,compound composition, or biological material composition with the use ofX-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents,etc.).

Certain embodiments of the entire X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2 cantherefore be configured as a single unitary member utilizing similartechnology as is known in graphical user interface (GUI), display, andcontroller technology such as to integrate all the portions of devicesinto combined units. By comparison, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as distinct units, only certain ones of which may includetheir distinct framework 3010 if desired, or practicable. There are avariety of potential advantages to frameworks which include, but are notlimited to, allowing a user to hold or providing a securement point(certain ones of which can be adjusted and controlled) to at leastcertain portions of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

Certain conventional transmissive X-rays can image three-dimensionalmatter across the extent of the portion of the person to atwo-dimensional image. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, by imaging atwo-dimensional X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding slice of the individual (e.g., imaging through the bone),might be particularly useful in X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,or providing information pertaining to the individual for orthopedics,knees, bones, joints, organs, and other structural aspects of theindividual.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to operate based at least inpart on tomography. Tomography can be based, at least partially, onobtaining at least one material characterizing distribution function.Within this disclosure, the material characterizing distributionfunction can be considered as a measurement of electron density, whichmore or less corresponds to the density of the matter. As such, avariety of X-ray fluorescence visualizations, images, or providedinformation of at least some matter of at least the portion of theindividual based at least upon the material characterizing distributionfunction. Conventional tomography, such as CAT scan, PET scan, etc. mayrely upon obtaining at least some type of distribution function. Thoseelectrons of the outer shells of the matter, thereby are loosely held tothe molecule, in such a manner to quantifiably correspond largely to thematerial characterizing distribution function. By comparison, thoseelectrons of the inner shell of the matter thereby are more securelyheld to the molecule, and therefore correspond to a lesser degree to thematerial characterizing distribution function.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can receive a number of X-ray fluorescence in such amanner that there exists a number of uncertainties as to certaincharacteristics (e.g., in density, mass, structure, component, etc.) ofthe matter that may be based at least partially on element compositionof the at least some matter. For example, a particular at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 that receives X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) from a specific angle and/or position may receive a large numberof X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) that correspond to that angle and/or position,corresponding to the material characterizing distribution function thatmay depend, at least partially, on the element composition of thematter. It may be difficult to differentiate between X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) from anumber of different depths that correspond to a given angle and/orposition within the at least some matter of the at least some portion ofthe individual, upon consideration of the material characterizingdistribution function. Conventional tomography can similarly utilizes amaterial characterizing distribution function.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can capture a X-ray fluorescence visualization,image, or provided information based on a number of materialcharacterizing distribution function that are obtained from a number ofpositions, angles, etc. based at least partially on element compositionof the at least some matter. For example, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canutilize the material characterizing distribution function obtained whenapplying an the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 substantially through a considerable portion of the individual thatare fluorescing, similar to as described relative to FIG. 5 to 12, forexample, and other locations through this disclosure. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize the material characterizing distributionfunction obtained when applying an the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 substantially through a considerable portionof the individual that can thereupon X-ray fluorescence similar to asdescribed relative to FIG. 6, for example, and other locations throughthis disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can differentiate between X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) fromdifferent X-ray fluorescence locations and/or angles, based at leastpartially on tomographic/volumetric considerations based at leastpartially on element composition of the at least some matter. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can differentiate between X-ray fluorescence high energy(e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) from different energylevels, based at least partially on tomographic considerations.

The embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that are secured to the at least the portion ofthe individual, using a sleeve or other such mechanism, will likely bepreferred by individuals undergoing imaging as compared with certain MRIimages, CAT scans, tomography imagers, and/or other conventional imagersin which the patient is expected to remain substantially motionless. Inaddition, certain conventional tomography imaging techniques requirepositioning of the individual in a claustrophobic tube during therelatively extended duration.

Certain types of tomography imagers (both conventional and included ascertain embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100), may tend to be quite computer-software andprocessor intensive. Much of the work by the computer software,hardware, or firmware is associated with repositioning, focusing,zooming, angling, refreshing, and other controlling and adjustingaspects of the displayed X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, orprovided information. Certain of the X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing components of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be indexed relative to the portion of the individual.Such indexing can be performed such that if a region of interest (e.g.,a cancer node) is located, the location can be determined relative tothe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,such as by longitude or latitude markings on the sleeve in certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. Certain instances of such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can be provided on areal time (or near real time) basis.

A considerable portion of this disclosure describes applying X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providers to image tolocate, analyze, and/or treat a variety of aberrations such as cancers,abscesses, infections, etc. It is also envisioned that a number ofembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be applied to a variety of surgical, medicalexamination, medical diagnosis, medical forensics, autopsies and othersuch applications. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to blood that canbe configured to provide high contrast with this technique since it hasiron and fluoresces considerably based at least partially on elementcomposition of the at least some matter.

As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider may be particularly appropriate forbrain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding and/or surgery, heart X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing and/or surgery, lung X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing and/orsurgery, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured to examineaberrations of such dissimilar matter such as calcium concentration ofportions of matter for X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing or examination for breast tumors, iodine forthyroid X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding or examination based at least partially on element compositionof the at least some matter. Additionally, certain contrast agents maybe used to enhance the contrast for X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing, for example iodine in blood vessels.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include a relatively weak powered X-raybased at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150, such that much of the X-rays generated therefrom may not betransmitted through the at least the portion of the individual. Suchrelatively weak powered X-ray at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 may be desirable since they limit thedosage being applied to the at least the portion of the individual, aswell as others near the individual such as the user.

There are a number of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques that can be utilized by certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, each of which should consider limiting the overall dosageof X-rays being applied to the at least the portion of the individualand/or other persons. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tooperate on a temporal/positional reflective basis. This may, dependingon context, be considered as X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing at a rate sufficient to indicate accurately thecurrent position of the portion of the individual 82 undergoing X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing(considering the intended purpose of the at least one X-ray fluorescencevisualization, image, or provided information).

Real time depth imaging, X-ray fluorescence visualizing, or informationproviding, and near real time depth imaging, X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, or information providing may be considered as oneembodiment of temporal/positional reflective X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing. As such,temporal/positional X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can involve updating ofX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingwithin such a duration as to accurately reflect a state of the at leastthe portion of the individual 82. By using certain types oftemporal/positional reflective X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider, certain usersmay be able to locate a region, organ, etc. within the at least theportion of the individual either manually or using a tool. Examples ofsuch tools as described in this disclosure can include, but a re notlimited to, an endoscope attachment, a tactile feedback provider, anattachment to a framework, etc.

As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence information canbe utilized or operated by the user and/or the individual on asubstantially temporal/positional reflective basis. At the time ofoperation, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding and/or X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation updating can be performed at a substantiallytemporal/positional reflective basis. Alternatively, certain X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing and/orX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information updatingcould be performed sequentially a number of times, or only one or moretimes using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 based at least partially on elementcomposition of the at least some matter.

A number of illustrative but not limiting applications of temporal X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing bycertain embodiments of the subcutaneous X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. One application of temporal X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could include functional brain X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing orfunctional tomography, in which certain regions of brain activation maybe reflected with increases in blood flow based at least partially onelement composition of the at least some matter of the brain. This typeof X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding could be used during brain surgeries to detect an areaassociated with a given cognitive action or sensory stimulation bymonitoring or detecting alterations in blood flow. Another applicationof temporal X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be associated withvascular surgery. Whether the vascular surgery be for clipping ananeurysm or creating a vascular graft, one could use the subcutaneousX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 todetect alterations in blood flow in the brain, heart, liver, or otherorgan, tissue, or region of the individual.

Yet another X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing application of certain embodiments of thesubcutaneous X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 could include implantation of orthopedic instrumentation. Auser such as a surgeon could image, examine, and/or utilized the implantduring installation to ensure that it is being installed properly. Assuch, the user could insure the implant is not being positioned arelocated in properly or in the wrong place during attachment orsecurement. Dentists could similarly image, examine, and/or utilizeimages relating to their dental work. An example of suchinstallation-based X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing might include installing a pedicle screw to beused in a spinal construct and/or plate. Certain embodiments of thesubcutaneous X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 may be used to ensure the screw has not breached and goneinto the spinal canal, or alternately exited to hit a blood vessel, anerve root, or another sensitive region. Certain embodiments of thesubcutaneous X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 could thereby help watch the implant placement progression.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be applied to different individuals such asa variety of humans of different conditions, sexes, ages (e.g., a humanadult, child, or embryo), etc. Additionally, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe applied to at least one other non-human individuals 82 including, butnot limited to: at least one animal (domestic, wildlife, livestock asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 37 and 38), at least one organism(natural or synthetic, such as can be X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or have information provided for medical, scientific, clinicalor other purposes), at least one plant, etc. By X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing animals such as pets,wild animals, or livestock, for example, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canobtain useful information thereabout based at least partially on elementcomposition of the at least some matter, without the necessity of theuser having to come into close contact, or only limited contact, withthe animal. Such users who often have to come in contact with animalsmight include, but are not limited to: veterinarian, wildlife managers,zookeepers, other people associated with wild or domestic animals, etc.Such close contact is also possible during use by certain X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingembodiments. In addition, such X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing can be done relatively routinely, orin a non-evident manner, such as to make scanning the animals, or arelatively large number of animals, relatively easy without themnecessarily being aware of the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing. Such X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing of certain animals maypreferably be performed in a manner that reduces the animal's awarenessthat anything unusual is occurring, such as may easily be accomplishedusing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100.

The above-mentioned components or embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2 as well as in other locations in this disclosure,could be distributed or operated outside, in a forest, etc. to view avariety of individual animals, humans, organisms, plants, etc., such asto monitor their conditions. Such configurations could allow X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing of wildanimals (perhaps controlled and/or adjusted by remote control),livestock, fish, etc. that may be based at least partially on thedensity, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Such embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldbe useful in detecting illnesses, infections, injuries, conditions, etc.in wildlife, whales, dolphins, etc. that may be based at least partiallyon the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. The matteraberration 360 can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orinformation provided, and can be provided or enhanced based at leastpartially on the elemental composition (or chemical composition,compound composition, or biological material composition with the use ofX-ray fluorescence enhancing additives, taggants, or contrast agents,etc.).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be applied to animals such pets, livestock,wild animals, aquatic animals and fish, etc. as described with respectto FIGS. 37 and 38, for example. Since animals do not understandconventional imaging or other medical processes, they may be difficultto handle or become agitated or confused under certain conventionalimaging circumstances. As such, it may be very difficult to imageportions of animals to determine their condition using certainconventional imagers. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be applied in suchmanner such as the animal may not even be aware of the ongoing X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.Veterinarians could utilize certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that may bebased at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter to obtain considerable X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing information previously unobtainablewhile keeping a safe distance from uncooperative, uncertain, ordangerous animals.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be applied to livestock, such as may besituated in a corral or even a field as described with respect to FIG.38. Such livestock embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider may be able to scan them for certainillnesses, infections, conditions, sicknesses, etc. (e.g., mad cowdisease) that may be based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. Certain users of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be characterizedby relative speed, limited expense, reliability, and effectiveness.

As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information of a wide variety of individuals fromthe surface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual down tothe within the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth (that may be based atleast partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter). Asdescribed herein, the surface that is being visualized, imaged, orinformation provided across could be internal and/or external to theindividual. The particular X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing modality being utilized should be configured basedon the matter, region, structure, and other characteristics, of the atleast the portion of the individual as well as the condition of the atleast the portion of the individual, etc.

Certain embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of distinct matter relatively can be based atleast partially on different X-ray based characteristics of the distinctmatter, the junction location of the different matters, etc. that may bebased at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. One X-ray characteristic can be based, at least partially,on X-ray absorbance differences between different types of matter thatmay be based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials, included in or contained withinthe matter. Bones, bone fragments, etc. when being exposed totransmissive X-rays are generally understood to absorb more X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation (e.g., X-ray photons) than softer human matter(such as skin, tissue, muscle, blood, bodily fluid, etc.), for example.Even with X-ray fluorescence, such as utilized by certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,the bone or bone fragments would be expected to be more dense, and wouldbe expected to absorb more X-rays of certain frequencies/energy levelsthan other matter such as tissue that may be based at least partially onthe densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. As such, certainmatter will X-ray fluorescence a greater percentage of the applied orthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 thanbone or bone fragments, which will absorb a greater percentage of X-raysthat may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter.

Similarly, each type of matter such as tissue, muscle, bones, fat, etc.should have distinct X-ray characteristics that can be imaged directlyusing X-ray fluorescence techniques, and/or by using certain particularcontrast agents or fluoroscopy using certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider that may bebased at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. Another X-ray characteristic can be based, at leastpartially, on X-ray fluorescence or reflectance differences betweendifferent types of matter. Yet another X-ray characteristic can bebased, at least partially, on a ratio of photons transmission comparedto photons return between different types of matter that may be based atleast partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize a single the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 during X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing such as can be providedby at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150, as described in this disclosure. By comparison, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providercan utilize multiple the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 which may at least partially intersect with each otherduring X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding such as can be provided by the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, as described in this disclosure.With certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, the intersection of the multiple the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can be appliedat a location that may be desired to be X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or information provided, such as at a particular prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth, etc.

With certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, the intersection location of the multiplethe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can becontrollably moved to a desired location such as may be controlled bythe user of certain embodiments of the subsurface X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 1 or 2. Alternately,such movement of the intersection can effect a scan, similar to a rasterscan such as is generally known by those skilled with displays. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can thereby be configured to provide a variety of differentX-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation depending on the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing techniques that may be based at least partiallyon the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. For instance, byX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing,certain individuals could be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, orhave information provided in a manner appearing similar to (but perhapshaving different resolution or characteristics from) imaging byconventional X-ray, fluoroscopy, MRI, CAT scans, or other X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing modalitiesthat may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter.

One aspect of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 is that relatively small X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationcan be captured, displayed, analyzed, and if desired recaptured withoutwaiting for durations associated with processing, or developing, theimages are X-ray fluorescence visualizations for a larger region. Incertain circumstances, the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,and/or providing information can be performed without having to wait forprocessing or developing, and the necessity of having to move orreposition the patient. During certain conventional imaging techniques,the at least the portion of the individual must remain virtuallymotionless during the conventional imaging process to maintain the imagequality. Additionally, certain conventional image techniques take aconsiderable duration to capture, develop, process, display, etc. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider can capture and/or display certainlocalized or shallow X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter relatively quickly. As such,the user such as the physician, veterinarian, dentist, or other user canquickly examine the X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation and/or obtain additional subsequent X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information that show desiredfeatures, positions, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may not require maintaining the at least theportion of the individual nearly motionless in an encircling enclosureor tunnel, such as with CT scans, PET scans, or MRI. Certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 might involve a change in X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing techniques by the users, surgeons, etc. thatmay be based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter, but would likely not diminish X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing capabilities orresolution as compared with other conventional imaging techniques.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured such that the at least onematter associated with the at least the portion of the individual 82.For example, the matter of the portion of the human can include at leastsome, or combination of: flesh, muscle, fat, tissue, bone, teeth, blood,fluids, or other such matter that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. As such, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to not only matter in general, but also different types ofmatter and junctions between different types of matter that may be basedat least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials included in or contained within the matter.Such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingmatter can be performed at the range of resolutions as described in thisdisclosure, and may at least partially rely on additional agents,components, etc. such as may enhance X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can allow physicians a number of opportunitiesto detect certain types of distinct matter, such as tumors, cancers,abscesses, infections, etc. that may be situated in a region ofgenerally normal matter that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Certain X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing modalities may be moresuccessful to detect certain types of cancers, abscesses, infections,etc. as compared with certain X-ray fluorescence visualizers, imagers,or have information providers that may be based at least partially onthe densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. It may thereforebe useful to provide a X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing modality that can detect at least one or aconsiderable number and types of cancers, tumors, abscesses, infections,and/or other matter aberrations as described in this disclosure. Forinstance, certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing modalities may not detect certain cancers,abscesses, infections, etc. or other matter aberrations, while otherX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingmodalities (perhaps including certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100) may detectthe cancers or other matter aberrations.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured or designed to detect atleast one of a variety of cancers or tumors such as, but not limited to:breast cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, prostatecancer, etc. Such cancer cells or tumors may be situated in the matterat a location that certain conventional imagers may not be able toimage, or may be expensive to image well. Certain cancers, such ascertain breast cancer and certain melanomas, may be characterized bycalcium nodules, which may be difficult be detect using a variety ofconventional imaging techniques and/or devices.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be well suited to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to a variety ofcancer and/or tumors. Certain tumors or cancers may exhibit angiogenesisthat allow X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding by certain X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation providers 100. The blood vessel of the patient individualnearby the cancer or tumor may be grown to allow for an increase inblood flow to the tumor or cancer as the tumor or cancer tends to expandand grow outward. Cancer cells or tumor cells may lose their ability todivide in a controlled fashion that can result in the angiogenesis.Tumors can induce blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) by secretingvarious growth factors, e.g., Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).Such growth factors can induce capillary growth into the tumor, whichsome researchers suspect supply required nutrients, thereby allowing fortumor expansion. Other clinicians believe that angiogenesis reallyserves as a waste pathway, taking away the biological end products putout by rapidly dividing cancer cells. In either case, angiogenesis is anecessary and required step for cancer cells to transition and grow froma small harmless cluster of cells to the size of a large tumor.Angiogenesis is also required for the spread of a tumor, or metastasis.The depth of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be controlled or adjusted as to localize thearea being examined.

Certain types of cancer can proliferate to different regions, areas,organs, etc. based on metastasis. Metastasis can occur, for example,when single cancer cells break away from an established solid tumor,enter the blood vessel, and be carried to a distant site, where they canimplant and begin the growth of a secondary tumor. Evidence now suggeststhat the blood vessel in a given solid tumor may in fact be mosaicvessels, comprised of endothelial cells and tumor cells. This mosaicitycan allow for substantial shedding of tumor cells into the vasculature.The subsequent growth of such metastases will also require a supply ofnutrients and oxygen or a waste disposal pathway as provided bysubsequent angiogenesis. A tumor thereby typically consists, of apopulation of rapidly dividing and growing cancer cells. Mutations mayrapidly accrue within the population of many cancer cells. Thesemutations of the cancer cells often allow at least some of the cancercells to develop drug resistance.

Tumors including certain cancer cells cannot grow beyond a certain size,while permitting the internal cancer cells deep within the tumor tosurvive (typically as a result of a lack of oxygen and other essentialnutrients that can be provided to the interior cancer cells). Certaintumors or cancers may thereby exhibit necrosis, in which, as the size ofthe tumor or cancer increases, the original cancer cells that aresituated deep within the tumor, and thereby distant from the outerboundary of the tumor or cancer may starve and die as a result of lackof nutrients such as may be provided by the healthy cells. Suchstarvation or dying may occur since the cell is no longer in contactwith healthy cells or supplies of nutrients or oxygen. As such, certainnecrotic cancer cells may tend to exhibit different photonic and X-raycharacteristics than the living cancer cells, as well as the healthycells. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can therefore be utilized to detect suchnecrotic cancer cells. Such X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing of tumors and/or cancer provides onlyone illustrative embodiment of a use of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

In addition, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information on a temporal/positional reflectivebasis that may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter, and may be performed without positioningthe individual in the claustrophobic enclosures, or applying thehigh-scale electromagnetic radiation associated with, for example,conventional MRI, conventional PET scans, and certain other conventionalimages.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide different X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing modalities and/ortechniques than that of conventional X-ray imaging. For example,conventional X-ray imaging can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information relating to differences based at least inpart on density or atomic number of the matter of the portion of theX-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided object,such as differences on density between bone and skin for a person. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information based at least partially on density ofmatter such as tissue, as well as providing an additional X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing modality.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be expected to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter to aresolution down to approximately 100 microns, or even less as technologyimproves.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to utilize contrast agentssuch as, for example, iodine that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe configured to apply a contrast agent at least partially within theconfined depth region that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Also, certain embodiments offluorophores (that when accepted by matter may allow the matter to X-rayfluorescence under the application of certain X-rays), as well as otherelectromagnetic responsive material, can be utilized in a similar manneras contrast agent to matter to enhance the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing that may be based atleast partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider can be configured to X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to certain fluids and/orfluid locations such as blood (e.g., an element of hemoglobin) that maybe based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. Certain blood locations, such as arteries, veins, bloodpooling regions, body parts, organs, capillaries, regions, etc., canprovide good X-ray contrast based at least partially on iron or othermaterials in the blood that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Therefore, the iron in theblood can cause deflection, absorption, reflection, or X-rayfluorescence of the X-rays passing there through by some detectableamount. Using conventional techniques, many surgeons, etc. haveconsiderable uncertainty as to the precise location of many bloodvessels that they must operate around without contacting or damaging.Such effort by the surgeons, etc. in avoiding the blood vessels may notonly be dangerous, but also expensive, time consuming, laborious, andtedious. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can detect blood vessels, as well asother bodily fluid conduits, etc. such as to in many instances allow thesurgeons, etc. to operate more safely, quickly, effectively, andefficiently in a manner such as may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be configured to observe calciumconcentration, such as may exist in certain cancers or tumors that maybe based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relating toiodine such as may be present and varying concentrations in portions ofthe brain, such as may be provided by the thyroid. Certain embodimentsmay be used in combination with a X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing agent that can be added to the atleast the portion of the individual, either intravascular or otherwisethat may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter.

Certain organs and matter such as tissue that have considerable bloodflow either flowing through or contained therein can be X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided based, atleast in part, on the blood situated within the organ or matter that maybe based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. Examples of such organs or matter that can be X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided as aresult of blood can include, but are not limited to: the brain(accounting for approximately 20 percent of the blood flow in the humanbody at any given time), the heart, the liver, the lung, the appendix,the intestine, as well as certain muscles. The heart therefore is anexample of an organ that can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged,or have information provided particularly well based on blood situatedrelative to the heart that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. The heart acts to circulateblood throughout the body, and such blood flow through the aorta, theventricles, and other chambers and regions of the heart can be X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided (incertain instances in a substantially real-time basis). In addition, theheart additionally includes arteries, veins, and capillaries which canbe distinctly X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided.

There may be variety of heart aspects and/or conditions that can beimaged using certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that may be based at least partiallyon the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. For example, themyocardium could be imaged, as can the heart valves, the coronaryarteries, the blood vessels, as well as other matter and/or fluid of orwithin the heart. Certain blood flows through the valves, the aorta,etc. can be imaged, such as to indicate regurgitation and (thatworkflow) of blood through a valve; as well as valve stenosis (whenblood flows through leaky valves) that may be based at least partiallyon the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to portions of the myocardium, such as to screenpersons for increased risk of myocardial infractions (heart attacks)that may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilizeexternal and/or Bluetooth image and, such as by utilizing scopes, etc.They can be positioned as desired relative to the heart that may bebased at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider can thereby be extended via scopes orother techniques following blood vessels, lumens, etc. to a desiredlocation within the heart. Certain embodiments of the subsurface X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilizeopen-heart or closed surgery or procedures.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can image at least portions of other organs,such as long as, liver, brain, etc. that may be based at least partiallyon the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. The lung and liverinclude internal nodules whose condition can be detected using certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider. As such, certain organs and matter can be X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have image provided by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100based, at least in part, on density or atomic number of the matter thatmay be based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. For example, bones, spine portions, cartilage, tendons,ligaments, etc. can be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe utilized by orthopedic surgeons, for example, to determine how bones,bone fragments, bony portions, etc. are situated relative to each otherthat may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter. For example, during a spinal construct orbone fracture surgery, the surgeon could determine whether the boneportions are properly aligned or situated as desired; such as to be ableto apply a construct, apply a pin, set, etc. that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter.Following surgery, the individual (e.g., patient) could be examinedusing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 to determine a variety of orthopedicconsiderations. For example, are the bones in the desired location suchas being aligned that may be determined based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter? Alternately, are any pins,fasteners, etc. that have been applied within the individual properlysituated or affixed relative to the portions of the individual, etc.that may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter? Such post-operative examination can beperformed with the bone portion(s) exposed, closed up and within the atleast the portion of the individual, as well as also contained within acast or other body part stabilizer. Following surgery, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 could be used to ensure that there has been no retainedsurgical instruments, sponges, tools, needles, tactile feedbackproviders, etc. within the at least the portion of the individual thatmay be determined based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter.

A variety of organs and/or matter can be X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or have information provided based at least partially on densityimage combination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight, imagetransformation, deconvolution, image subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, and group including inverse integral transform,subtractive inverse integral transform, inverse functional transform,and subtractive inverse functional transform, or other such imageprocessing techniques) across the organ. Certain organs can be formednon-uniformly, such as alveoli being formed within lungs, blood vessels,non-uniform heart matter or tissue, etc. that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter. Certainorgans and matter can include gases, liquids, and/or solids in portionsof the organ or matter, such as to make the matter of the organ ortissue non-uniform.

As such, whether the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of the organ or matter is based at least partiallyon the blood or blood component situated therein, the density imagecombination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight, imagetransformation, deconvolution, image subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, and group including inverse integral transform,subtractive inverse integral transform, inverse functional transform,and subtractive inverse functional transform, or other such imageprocessing techniques) across the organ or matter, or the liquid, solid,or gasses contained in at least portions of the organ or matter. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image,and/or provide information with considerable definition and atrelatively low resolution, while others can be configured withrelatively low definition at relatively high resolution. Suchdefinitions, resolutions, and/or other X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing characteristics can becontrolled and/or adjusted with certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

The operation and structure of the certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can,depending on context, have a considerable number of similaritiesindependent of the type of individual 82. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe operated and/or scaled differently, however, depending upon thecondition and/or portion of the individual being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or having information provided, desired resolutionof X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing,rate of successive X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, temporal duration of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing, cooperation orconsciousness of the individual, and other such factors.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby utilize a variety of X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing techniquessimilar to those that can at least partially include, but are notlimited to: conventional X-ray imaging (e.g., transmission and/orfluoroscopy), X-ray Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) scans, PositronEmission Tomography (PET) scans, X-ray imaging at least partially usingX-ray fluorescence, X-ray back X-ray fluorescence imaging, X-rayforward-X-ray fluorescence imaging, and/or other combinations,modifications, and/or developments of X-ray imaging, and/or X-ray basedimaging modalities. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing technologies could beconfigured to represent affordable and technically useful X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingtechnologies for a variety of medical applications. The more affordableparticular X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding modality are provided similar success rates, safety records,etc., the more likely it is to be routinely used, and thereuponultimately developed and accepted.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 therefore can rely on a variety of X-raytechnologies that may be based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. X-ray technologies, in general, can becharacterized as particle bombardment, in which the particle includesemitted photons following interaction of the target atom situated at theanode with electrons directed at (or near) the target atom. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 therefore can rely on emission and detection of X-rays,which can take the form of directed or bombarded particles such asphotons (and/or X-ray fluorescence photons there from).

As such, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding technology can be associated and/or operatively combined withcertain other imaging modalities such as particle bombardment imagingmechanisms (i.e., the particles including photons), as well as otherconventional imaging methodologies as described in this disclosure. Suchcombination of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 with other imaging modalities are intended to be consideredas another embodiment of X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider, for the purpose of this disclosure, depending oncontext. As such, the X-rays can be characterized as including photons,which represent a form of electromagnetic radiation, which may becharacterized by Maxwell's Equations.

There can be a variety of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing modalities can be utilized to provide some levelof X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing(which together can be considered for purpose of this disclosure,depending on context, to be referred to as X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing). Certain conventionaltransmission X-ray visualizing, imaging, or information providingmodality can rely largely on those X-rays that can be applied to thesoft matter or tissue of the at least the portion of the individual 82,to be transmitted there through (while being absorbed, diffracted,reflected, etc. off bones or other matter). The electromagneticradiation of the transmitted X-rays can thereupon be received at adistant location of the at least the portion of the individual 82, afterit has passed through the at least the portion of the individual 82.Such techniques can be used to form the X-ray on the opposite side ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82. X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing, as performed bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, can refer to those modalities that reliesprimarily on the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation that is at leastpartially reflected, or redirected, as it passes through the soft matteror tissue (or other opaque matter) of the at least the portion of theindividual 82.

The term “X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding”, as described in this disclosure, can be performed by one ormore of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Depending on context, certain typeof X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcan include, but is not limited to, X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing, photography, displaying, X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information generation, computergeneration, partial X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation integration, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation capturing, X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation synthesizing, and other techniques that can at leastpartially capture X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter.

A sufficient amount of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 can penetrate into the at least portion of theindividual 82 for a prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170to accomplish the desired X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. By limiting the amount ofX-rays, the dosage can be limited as well. A certain amount of the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 will likely beX-ray fluorescence or otherwise deflected throughout the penetrationregion from the surface 168 (e.g., skin) subsurface down to, andincluding, the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170.

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 can be associated with a variety ofembodiments of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation that can operate ata variety of frequencies and/or energy levels, which may therefore X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information down to or ata variety of prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths into theat least the portion of the individual 82 within a first of view of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 may be situated within the at least theportion of the individual 82, adjacent to the at least the portion ofthe individual 82, or external to the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Either one, or a plurality of, the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 may be providedeither within the at least the portion of the individual 82, adjacent tothe at least the portion of the individual 82, and/or external to the atleast the portion of the individual 82 that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 can be configured, bycomparison, to receive X-ray electromagnetic radiation in the form ofX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) that can X-ray fluorescence from the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 provided by the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, or anotherdevice configured to emit the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Within this disclosure,certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 can beadjustable such as to receive certain embodiments of the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation such as can be applied to the at least theportion of the individual from the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 (and X-ray fluorescence at leastpartially within the at least the portion of the individual). Suchadjustment of the at least one detector portion 152 can be based on suchparameters as direction, signal strength, frequency, energy level, orother such characteristics of the X-ray photons.

Certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150, that is not associated with anyparticular X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, may be utilized that can be detected by one or moredistinct detector portions 152 and/or one or more distinct at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. For example, certainembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 may be configured as a “flooding” embodiment thatcan provide X-rays within a relatively larger area of the individual,and perhaps a surrounding area. For instance, a remote or local sourceof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 caninclude the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150, and the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 can be at least partially directed at the at least theportion of the individual 82 from a distant high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion, or other device, such as could be detected bythe detector portion 152 that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. Certain embodiments ofoperating rooms, examination rooms, medical offices, researchfacilities, etc. may be provided with a dispersive embodiment of the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150,such that each user (doctor, medical assistant, technician, dentist,etc.) operationally nearby may utilize their distinct or combinedpersonal or group detector portion 152, and/or personal or group displayor information provider portion 154.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 can behand-held, and may thereupon be positioned by the user of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Forinstance, if a doctor or dentist would like to examine the subsurface ofcertain at least the portion of the individual, then certain embodimentsof the embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 could bepositioned as proximate the at least the portion of the individual asdesired to provide the desired X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing quality and images. Such positionableembodiments of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150, the detector portion 152, the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, or other components of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beuseful to image relatively small portions of the individual in a mannerto substantially limit application of X-rays to those regions. Forexample, in a surgical operating room, medical examination room,veterinarian, etc., certain positionable embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can besituated closely adjacent the at least the portion of the individual.

The level of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 can be thereupon be relatively small as compared with flooding-typehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portions. The user (and/orthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97) can thereupon control or adjust the X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing. By allowingprecise control of the limited at least some matter in the at least aportion of the individual that is being imaged by capturing one or moresequential, adjustable, controllable, or continuous X-ray fluorescencevisualizations, images, or provided information, less X-rayelectromagnetic radiation may be applied to the individual, the user,and/or others in the vicinity. Certain embodiments of the detectorportion could be mechanically mounted, or motion-stabilized (such as isunderstood in computer graphic systems), such as to limit relativemotion of the X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation on the display portion.

Certain embodiments of the at least one display portion 154, asdescribed in this disclosure, can display at least one X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information based at leastpartially on the X-ray fluorescence based electromagnetic radiation thathas been received by the at least one detector portion 152. Certainembodiments of the at least one display portion 154 can be adjusted suchthat the user can observe what they desire, adjust the X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or provided information, and/orotherwise control a variety of operations of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information providers 100.

Certain embodiments of the at least one display portion 154 can displayat least portion of the X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to the portion of the individual 82 to theindividual, such as a patient either alone or in combination with aphysician, etc. The fact that certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providers 100 canoperate on a substantially real-time basis can make the individual moreaware of their condition based on an accurate X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of at least a portionof their body. Consider certain individuals who may have an injury,illness, sickness, medical condition, etc. who can have an X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relating to anappropriate location likely be provided with a near-temporal/positionalreflective X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to an appropriate location. As such, they can havemore knowledge of their treatment or condition, understand theirtreatment, and/or perhaps even participate in their treatment. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to control a treating mechanism that canbe used to treat the at least the portion of the individual 82 at leastpartially in response to the X-ray fluorescence information.

In certain injuries or conditions such as ligament tears, joint or boneinjuries/fractures, organ conditions, etc., certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providers 100could X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information ina substantially continuous manner as the at least the portion of theindividual undergoes motion of an affected joint or location. Forexample, an orthopedic surgeon could consider or examine a knee joint orbone of a patient during flexure, relaxation, or other motion of thatbody part. In certain instances, X-ray fluorescence enhancing additives,taggants, or contrast agents, etc. could be applied to at least theportion of the individual such as to improve the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation providers 100 can interface and/or interact with each otherto provide X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding operation(s) between a number of the at least portions of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providers. Forexample, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 (or portions thereof) can includethe at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can include the one or more detector portion152, or alternately at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151. Still yet other embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can include one or more displayportions 154. Various of the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150, detector portions 152, and/or displayportions 154 can be combined as desired, and utilized in an appropriateconfiguration for the desired X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing application, only certain illustrativeembodiments of which are described in this disclosure.

Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can be configuredto apply X-ray based electromagnetic radiation at least partially towardthe at least the portion of the individual 82. The frequency, energylevel, or other operational characteristics and/or structuralcharacteristics of the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation may differconsiderably (and be less objectionable or dangerous) than as applied topatients by conventional X-ray (fluoroscopy) techniques. This is largelya result of lower X-ray dosages being applied to the individual sincethe X-rays can X-ray fluorescence from the at least the portion of theindividual 82 after it has passed through only a relatively shortdistance within the at least the portion of the individual. As such,electromagnetic shielding that is applied to patients undergoingfluoroscopy can be limited, or at least considerably reduced, by usingcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Certain airport screening systems, forexample, use X-ray fluorescence X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing from security screening without undueconcern of excessive radiation being applied to the travelers of usersof the X-ray scanning systems.

The at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle of limitedstrength could be useful in X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing sensitive at least portions ofindividuals such as embryos, fetuses, etc. within pregnant women.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could image in a manner such that the X-raysstop just short of sensitive matter or tissue, organ, or other matter(e.g., the uterus, heart, brain, etc.) and thereby limit exposure ofionizing radiation to the embryos, fetuses, etc. for example. Inactuality, almost any matter within the individual can be considered assensitive to some degree, particularly relative to desirability oflimiting exposure of X-rays there to. As such, certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100are particularly suited to correcting or applying the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/or X-ray fluorescencehigh energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.) tocontrollably limited regions within the individual. Additionally, theremay be a considerable number and variety of organs, portions, orsegments of the body that would do better with limited the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. As such, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can limit transmission of X-rays during depth imaging tocertain of such matter, organs, portions, or segments of the body.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to areas asdesired within the particular individual, and limit exposure of X-rayradiation to other (perhaps sensitive) regions.

Within this disclosure, the X-ray fluorescence detected by certainembodiments of the detector portion 152 can be back X-ray fluorescence,forward X-ray fluorescence, deflected, or other distortions of the pathof the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation that fall within the scopeof the present disclosure, while remaining within the intended scope ofX-ray fluorescence. Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 canbe associated with a variety of embodiments of X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation, which can operate at a variety of frequenciesand/or energy levels, and may therefore X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information down to or at a variety of depths intothe at least the portion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in this disclosure, can beconfigured with one or more of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151, the detector portion 152, and/orthe display portion 154, or any combination thereof. With thoseembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 having no at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150, the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation can beat least partially provided by another device. For instance, a number ofthe display portion(s) 154 (or alternately at least one display portionthat can be viewed by numerous persons), can be utilized by orcontrolled by a number of persons such as surgeons, technicians,assistants, etc. that can be applied by a single strategically locatedat least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150.The at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s)150 may, or may not, be included as a portion of at least one of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider(s) 100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be controlled, such as to allow itsoperator to select different substantial X-ray fluorescence depths 170(or range of substantial X-ray fluorescence depths) to which the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider can X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information. Within certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, the substantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170 for X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, and/or information providing may varyas a function of the energy applied to or contained within the at leastone applied high energy photon, and/or the frequency, energy level, orother characteristics of the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120. The matter (e.g., skin, tissue, bone, etc) to whichthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 is beingapplied will also affect the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing characteristics. As certain characteristics of theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 areincreased, it may likely effect the maximum prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth 170 (see FIGS. 23 and/or 25) to which the at leastone applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 X-ray fluorescenceradiation will likely travel to prior to X-ray fluorescence, or therebyX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information down tothat may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter. While a limited number of X-rays mighttravel within the at least the portion of the individual to a depthgreater than the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to limit the effects of thosefew X-rays relative to the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide for image combination (e.g., imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and group includinginverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform,inverse functional transform, and subtractive inverse functionaltransform, or other such image processing techniques) that may be basedat least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials included in or contained within the matter,as described with respect to FIG. 21. Within this disclosure, such imagecombining techniques as relating to X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing techniques can, depending on context,refer to X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding between two of the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths 170 a and 170 b that may be based at least partiallyon the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biologicalmaterials included in or contained within the matter. Each prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170 a and 170 b can be situated atleast some distance from the skin or surface 168 of the individual (suchas illustrated in FIGS. 21 and/or 22). Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can obtainmultiple sampled X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to data pertaining to X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing at different depthseither sequentially or in parallel. As such, the multiple sampled X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relating todata can be considered as X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing a similar sample space down to differentprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths 170 a and 170 b.

Certain ones of the multiple sampled X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to data can thereupon becompared at least partially by image combination (e.g., imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and group includinginverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform,inverse functional transform, and subtractive inverse functionaltransform, or other such image processing techniques) that may be basedat least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds,and/or biological materials included in or contained within the matter.As such, those details, images, information, X-ray fluorescencevisualizations, etc. that are situated in the shallower prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170 a, and not in the deeperprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170 b, as described withrespect to FIG. 21, can be digitally subtracted out, transformed out, orotherwise computed out. By digitally differentiating the matter, tissue,objects, etc. being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided at the shallower prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth 170 a from the deeper prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth 170 b, the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information or other information relating tomatter between the shallower and deeper prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths can be obtained.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to obtain a X-rayfluorescence information at least partially using X-ray fluorescence toderive X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationthrough at least one matter (e.g., tissue or other matter) of the atleast the portion of the individual 82. Such X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or providing information can be provided at leastat both a first depth region and at a second depth region, bothassociated with the at least a common portion of the individual 82. Thedepth difference between the first depth regions that extends to a firstprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth 170 a and the seconddepth region that extends to a second prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth 170 b can be used for subtraction or combinationX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingtechniques, as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that utilize subtraction or combination X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing techniquescan therefore act to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at different prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepths 170 a and 170 b. As such, adjustment of the subtraction orcombination X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding technique can be performed at least partially by, for example,controlling and/or adjusting the frequency of energy level of the X-rayphotons at two levels to provide two X-rays. Each of the controllingand/or adjusting the frequency of energy level of the X-ray photons canbe detected distinctly to the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths 170 a and 170 b. Thereupon, the difference of theshallower level image undergoes image combination (e.g., imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution, imagesubtraction, weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and groupincluding inverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integraltransform, inverse functional transform, and subtractive inversefunctional transform, or other such image processing techniques) fromthat of the deeper image. The image subtraction or combination X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingtechniques can thereby be used to provide information about matterwithin range of volumes between two prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depths 170 a and 170 b in FIGS. 21 and 22 from the surface168, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information at a first controllable oneof the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one firstprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth to obtain the firstX-ray fluorescence image information. Certain of these embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at asecond controllable one of the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one second prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depthto obtain the second X-ray fluorescence information. Certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured to computationally differentiating the dataassociated with the first X-ray fluorescence information and the secondX-ray fluorescence information.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can also utilize a time of flight measurementto X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information atthe at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth, as described with respect to FIG.22. Such time of flight measurement can utilize precise pulse signalswhich can be characterized as at least one input pulse signal and atleast one return pulse signal (allowing fractional-second temporal X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing resolutionso as to achieve suitable X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing resolution). The briefer the duration of theemitted pulse signal and the detected pulse signal, the lesser theachievable resolution (lesser resolution leading to improved X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcharacteristics). Using time of flight techniques, the emitted pulsesignals can be applied by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to the surface 168 ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82 that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter.Providing the time of flight of the return signal can be measured withsufficient accuracy (e.g., resolution in picoseconds for certainembodiments, such as those that utilize streak cameras, pixilated streakcameras, avalanche detectors, CCDs, etc.) then the time of the detectedpulse signal can be gated to provide sufficient accuracy, and the timeof flight can be determined, from which the distance or depth can bedetermined that may be X-ray visualized, imaged, or information providedbased at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter.

By using the time of flight embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can transmit the atleast one input pulse and the detector portion 152 can detect the returntime of the at least one return pulse signal. As described with respectto FIG. 22, a time of flight calculation 160 can be determined based onthe amount of time required for the at least one input pulse signal tobe applied to the at least the portion of the individual; which canthereupon each be X-ray fluorescence into one or more return pulsesignal. The X-ray fluorescence return pulse signal(s) will be modifiedbased at least in part on the characteristics of the matter of theindividual through which the pulse signals pass (e.g., pulse the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/or pulseX-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.)).

One use of combination of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing (including subtracting, and other such processes)may involve X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding matter, an organ, etc. that is located within a region that issituated a considerable depth from the surface 168. During X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing ofsuch a deep organ, matter, etc., additional matter, organs, etc. thatare positioned between the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing component(s) of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 and the imaged regionmay not be necessarily be displayed. Therefore, additional matter,organs, tissue, etc. may not be X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged,or have information provided using image combination (e.g., imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and group includinginverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform,inverse functional transform, and subtractive inverse functionaltransform, or other such image processing techniques).

As such, certain organs, matter, etc. that are situated deep within theat least the portion of the individual may be imaged without X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providinginterference from shallower matter using subtraction or combination ofX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingtechniques, such as with image combination (e.g., image subtraction,time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution, weightedsubtraction, functional subtraction, and group including inverseintegral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform, inversefunctional transform, and subtractive inverse functional transform, orother such image processing techniques). Alternately, certain matter,tissue, organs, etc. can be imaged by positioning the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, the at least onedetector portion 152, and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving assembly internally at a suitable position relative to theimaged organs, matter, etc. One skilled with the various embodiments,configurations, and uses of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could determine which X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing technique wouldprovide the better quality X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information or images, less invasively, therebylowering the X-ray dosages to the user and/or individual.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can at least partially rely on X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing matterwithin the at least the portion of the individual 82, such as muscle,skin, blood vessels, fluids (e.g., blood, lymph), etc. Within thisdisclosure, the soft X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing may be compared to hard imaging such as occurs inconventional fluorescing imaging that may occur when the visualizing,imaging, or information providing modality encounters a hard orreflective surface such as bones, metals, etc. By providing X-rayfluorescence-based X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of soft matter, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can allowdetection of variations of certain characteristics of the soft matter,such as may be the case of calcification of the skin such as occursrelative to a matter aberration. Such matter aberrations as certainbreast cancers can be identified due to the calcification of the tumoror cancer. By allowing X-ray fluorescence-based X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of at least some softmatter, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can provide for locating that may bebased at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter. Such locating or positioning based at least partially onmatter aberration can be applied to such varied applications aspositioning organs, circulatory portions (e.g., veins, arteries, etc),blood flows, nerves, bones, etc. relative to the at least some matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82 that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to limit certain contact ordamage of arteries, veins, capillaries, or other blood (or other fluid)vessels, etc. that may be based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. Consider the difficulty during surgery,etc., of avoiding such contact that may be at some uncertain locationwithin the individual. Considering the number of blood or other fluidvessels within the body, as well as the likelihood of damage usingscopes, tools within incisions, cutting tools, tactile feedbackproviders, other tools, etc., the scope of the difficulty duringsurgery, etc. becomes evident. In certain instances, a surgeon may evenbe unaware if they have damaged a hidden blood vessel or other fluidcapillary. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be positioned to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information the region inwhich the physician or veterinarian is working. Alternately, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be connected to, or otherwise associated with, toolsbeing applied to the at least the portion of the individual. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can also allow surgeons, and/or their tools, to avoid orlimit contact with particular nerves, organs, matter, etc. Such X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing whichallows users such as surgeons, dentists, veterinarians are likely tocome in proximity with blood vessels, fluid vessels, nerves, organs,matter, etc. to limit contact their with. Such imaging or X-rayfluorescence visualization to limit contact with certain portions of thebody can be performed on a substantially real-time basis, or anotherbasis as desired, and would be expected to considerably reduce theduration of operations, procedures, etc, by such users as doctors,dentists, veterinarians, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can also be configured to locate, analyze,and/or treat blood pooling or other fluid pooling. With certain injuriesfrom bombs, explosives, injuries, vehicular and other crashes, certainillnesses, certain infections, etc., it can be difficult withconventional imagers to locate blood pooling within portions of suchindividuals as humans, animals, fish, etc. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 coulddetermine, for example, a trajectory of a bullet, explosive, bomb, etc.such as could be located by determining the location (such as in a trailor pool) of blood through organs, matter, etc. Other naturally occurringblood or fluid pools could be located, examined, and/or treated.

Another example of a bodily fluid which might be located using certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 is lymph fluid. Following certain cancers, for example,certain lymph nodes may have to be removed. Lymph nodes function tolargely remove lymph fluid from the body. With lymph nodes removed,there can be a considerable collection of the lymph fluid in the body,which can add to weight gain to the individual and/or eventually becomeinfected. Other types of bodily fluids may be X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or have information provided.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152, asdescribed at various locations through this disclosure, can becontrolled and/or adjusted to receive photons at least partially emittedfrom the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150. Such control and/or adjustment can be performed in amanner that can be used to provide X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing using certain embodiments of the atleast one display portion 154.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence depth visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 can thereby include, butis not limited to, at least one control and/or adjustment portion 934.Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 of the at least oneX-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be configured to measurethe amount of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation (e.g., X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.) in the form of photons) that is received by the at least onedetector portion 152. Certain embodiments of the control and/oradjustment portion 934 can be configured to control and/or adjust theposition, angle, or other operating parameter of at least a portion ofthe at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151. Certainembodiments of the control and/or adjustment portion 934 can be used toenhance, modify, filter, or otherwise effect reception of the X-raybased electromagnetic radiation (e.g., in the form of photons), such asmay be emitted from the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150. Certain detector portions 152 of certainembodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 can be omni-directional, multi-directional, or at least have asuitable directional range as to suitable detect the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation being emitted towards the at least the portionof the individual. Certain embodiments of the control and/or adjustmentportion 934 can be configured to the relative angle(s), frequencies,and/or positions of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150, and/or the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Certain embodiments of the control and/or adjustmentportion 934 can be configured to ensure suitable transmission orreception of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation to allow proper X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 can also include a detector portion transfer portion, notshown, in which the detected photons, X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing information, data, etc. relating tothe X-rays that can be at least partially X-ray fluorescence at/withinthe at least the portion of the individual. Certain data, information,images, X-ray fluorescence visualizations, etc. as obtained at leastpartially be the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s)151 can be displayed by the at least one display portion 154, perhaps ina form of the at least one X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, orprovided information.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information at a substantiallyreal-time basis, while other embodiments can be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at a slowerrepetitive rate. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can even be configuredto X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to one or more non-repetitive X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information that may be based atleast partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter. Suchselection of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding on substantially temporal/positional reflective can allow suchusers as a surgeon, doctor, veterinarian, dentist, etc. to obtainconditional information, X-ray fluorescence event information, etc. atdesired subsurface locations of the at least the portion of theindividual 82 as quickly as desired. Within this disclosure, the term“subsurface”, can, depending on context, refer to X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing matter underneath,or across, the surface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual82 (possibly X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing the surface of the individual). Certain of thesurfaces 168 can include skin, internal surfaces, etc. that can be incommunication with outside via an opening such as one which a scope thatcould be applied, such as mucous membranes, at least partiallyendothelium, internal membranes or skin(s) at least partially definingor surrounding a lumen, via blood vessels, etc. Certain embodiments ofat least portion of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 (such as the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 or the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151) could be applied to within the atleast the portion of the individual 82 using such technologies as ascope, a needle, an injected or implanted device.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be configured to, for example, image amoving organ as described with respect to FIG. 36. Such X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or providing information relativeto moving organs can be applied to, for example, at least a portion ofthe heart, kidney, brain, stomach, intestine, or other organ that can bedefined based on X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, or variations such as by edges of the particularorgans being X-ray fluorescence visualized, imaged, or informationprovided.

Consider that a moving two dimensional or three dimensional image of aportion of the heart could be provided using certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. SuchX-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingcould be useful for diagnosis purposes, during surgery, during screeningof susceptible individuals, etc. X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing could be performed on a heart valve,as well as the associated X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging,or information providing through that heart valve. Heart-based X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing couldbe provided by positioning the at least one high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) 150 and the at least one detector portion152 in suitable proximity to (or within) the heart utilizing suitablescopes, implants, etc. along with wireless and/or wired-basedtechnology. The configuration, position, motion, reflex of the heart,aorta, arteries, valves, etc. can be used with suitable resolution andrefresh rates using certain X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 configurations.

Certain embodiment the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be applied to image matter or tissuecontained within such internal lumens to the human body (and/or imagefrom the internal lumens). Such internal lumens can include, but are notlimited to, those at least partially defining: the respiratory tract,the cardiovascular system (e.g., heart, blood vessels), at least aportion of a CSF-space of the nervous system (e.g., the spinal canal,the ventricles of the brain, the sub-arachnoids space, etc.), at least aportion of the urinary tract (for example a urethra), at least a portionof the lymphatic system, at least a portion of the abdominal cavity, atleast a portion of the thoracic cavity, at least a portion of thegastrointestinal tract, at least a portion of a reproductive tract(either the female reproductive tract—e.g., a lumen of a fallopiantube), or the male reproductive tract (including various lumensincluding but not limited to the epidermis, vas deferens or ductiledeferens, efferent duct, ampoule, seminal duct, ejaculatory duct, orurethra), the biliary tract, a nostril or nasal cavity, the oral cavity,the digestive tract, the tear ducts, a glandular system, and/or thereproductive tract. Other body lumens may be found in the auditory orvisual system, or in interconnections thereof, e.g., the Eustachiantubes. As such, three can be a considerable variety of applications forcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information at a single resolutiondevice, such as may be appropriate for a particular X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing application, aparticular resolution, or a particular use. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe configured to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at a variety of resolutions or applications, such as can becontrolled by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 1 or 2. Such variationof the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding resolution may vary depending on use. For instance, in thoseinstances where the embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 is being used to determine alocation or position of an organ, bone, etc., relatively high resolution(e.g., low quality) X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be utilized. By comparison, in those instanceswhere the embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are being used to detect tumors or the like, arelatively improved resolution (high quality) X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information may be obtained andutilized.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can thereby utilize one or more at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 that can applyX-ray radiation which can be X-ray fluorescence and/or reflected off atleast the portion of the individual 82. As such, certain conventionalX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing maybe referred to as “soft X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing” since it is reflective (relying at leastpartially on reflection/refraction of X-ray based electromagneticradiation-photons), instead of being at least partially transmissive aswith certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100. Certain transmissive types of conventionalX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing canalso utilize fluoroscopy. In addition, X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing may often utilize less powerful X-raysignals then conventional X-ray imaging since the photons of the formerdo not have to pass through the at least the portion of the individual82.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 therefore provide a mechanism to examine orview an aberration in the surface 168 that can be provided intemporal/positional reflective, real time or near real time, or in acontrollable repeatable or non-repeatable fashion. Certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding time (duration) can be controlled or adjusted based, at leastin part, on such factors as: input from the user, X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing detail. Otheroperational characteristics of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beadjusted and/or controlled by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97, as described in this disclosure.

It is to be understood that the included description(s) of the at leastone high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150, the atleast one detector portion 152, and/or the at least one display portion154, as described in this disclosure, are intended to be illustrative innature but not limiting in scope. Modifications and/or alterations ofone or more of the devices 150, 151, 152, and/or 154 from thosedescribed in this disclosure are within the intended scope of thepresent disclosure, depending they still are within the scope of theclaims.

As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured such that thephysician, dentist, etc. using them can observe a subsurface X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, and/or provide information of theregion of the at least the portion of the individual 82. Certainparticulars of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing and/or the region can vary depending on theembodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. For example, certain X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing can correspond to where they arelooking, wherein they desire to look, or alternatively where they directthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can present X-ray fluorescence visualizations, images,and/or provide information to a group of persons particularly associatedwith the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider.

With conventional X-rays that are transmitted through the at least theportion of the individual 82, including fluoroscopy as well asconventional transmissive X-rays techniques, X-rays may be configured tobe applied such that the electromagnetic radiation is applied withsufficient energy level and/or frequency of the X-ray photons to beapplied through the portion of the at least some matter. The X-rayphotons resulting from X-ray fluorescence is traditionally not utilizedin conventional fluoroscopy-based imaging modalities. As such, withcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 does not have to be applied exclusively, but canrepresent a percentage (even a minority) of the electromagneticradiation being applied to the at least the portion of the individual82.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize X-ray fluorescences that do nothave to X-ray fluorescence from within the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Instead, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can pass at leastpartially through the at least the portion of the individual 82 and besomewhat deflected or fluoresce, such that as described within the atleast the portion of the individual 82. The X-ray based electromagneticradiation that is detected as “X-ray fluorescence” information maythereby at least partially X-ray fluorescence by the at least theportion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 from the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beapplied can be applied at various angles (ranging from perpendicular tosubstantially parallel to the contacting surface 168 of the at least theportion of the individual 82) relative to the surface of the matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82.

The X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information can bepresented to the user such as a surgeon, veterinarian, dentist,researcher, etc. by a variety of display portion means that can include,but are not limited to: an external monitor, a head-mounted display,stereoscopic projection, a scope device (i.e., endoscope, etc.). Certainportions of different embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be used in combination, such asa scope-based at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 which can be used in combination with an at leastpartially external-based or internal-based detector portion 152 fromanother embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be usable or are adjustable to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information to variouscontrollable and/or adjustable prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepths that may be based at least partially on the densities, elements,chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included in orcontained within the matter. For example, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldbe configured to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provideinformation to a prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth of afew millimeters. Other embodiments could be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information to aprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth through the at least theportion of the individual 82, if provided with X-ray electromagneticradiation having sufficient energy or of a suitable X-ray photonfrequency or energy level. The prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth of X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be a function of frequency,energy level, or other characteristic of the X-ray photons used togenerate the X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, type of matter ofthe individual, as well as power applied to generate the X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or provided information.

For example, a user or operator can utilize certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at avariety of prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depths. It isenvisioned that a variety of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing modalities can be utilized for thedifferent embodiments of the debt-controllable X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. With certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in this disclosure, the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing can X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, and/or provide information from the surface 168 downto and including the controlled prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth of the at least the portion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of a robotic or automated system can utilize certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, such as to allow a wide variety of automated or roboticdevices to operate at least partially in response to X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or provided information. For instance, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider could scan the at least the portion of the individual forsuspicious areas such as melanomas automatically, and indicate anysuspicious region to a doctor or operator to be more closely considered.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to control a robotic deviceat least partially in response to the X-ray fluorescence information. Itmay be envisioned that certain automated devices or robotic devicescould be configured to allow surgery, internal procedures (e.g.,scope-based or other), and/or other internal operations based at leastin part on X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding information obtained at least in part from the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Suchautomated or robotic procedures hold out the promise of considerableprecision, as well as a variety of automated or remotely-controlledoperation.

A variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to allow control and/oradjustment of the within the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth of theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can allow an operator such as a surgeon,support person, other person, machine, robot, etc. to provide input, ormanually, to control and/or adjust the depth at which the at least onedepth-adjustable embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. With certain depth-adjustableembodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, at least one of the selected depth that is being X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or have information provided can betargeted (for example, by tuning the X-ray radiation intensity, energylevel, frequency, or other characteristics) either manually and/orautomatically.

One such technique that can be used to adjust and/or control the withinthe at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth at least partially by angling theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 relative tothe surface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual. Providedthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100is configured to pass through a prescribe depth of matter, the greaterthe angle at which the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 contacts the surface 168, the lesser the travel distance ofthe at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding depth into the matter.

Another such technique that can be used to adjust and/or control the atleast one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding depth by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can involve providing adepth equivalent material or device between that the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 should pass through. Forexample, assume that the depth equivalent material or device representsthe equivalent of 2 mm, and assuming the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 is configured to image at 5 mm, theimage subtraction or combination effect of the depth equivalent materialwould result in X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing down to a prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth of, for example, 3 mm. A number of depth equivalentmaterial of devices can be provided such as to allow control and/oradjustment over the desired X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneprescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing depth.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be configured to obtain the X-rayfluorescence information in a manner capable of temporally reflectingmotion (conscious or reflexive) of portion(s) of the individual 82 thanare deeper than those described up to this point. For example, certainembodiments of the aberrative matter, etc. may be configured to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at least oneorgan(s), bone(s), bone portion(s), blood vessel(s), bloodcapillar(ies), etc. that may be spaced relatively deeply subsurface. Byaltering certain operational characteristics of the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation that may be applied by the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2, as well as received by certain embodiments ofthe at least one detector portion(s) 152, the substantial X-rayfluorescence depth can thereby be controlled.

Considering that conventional X-rays can image by X-rays passingcompletely through the at least the portion of the individual, it shouldbe understood that X-ray fluorescence technologies can be used to X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information a considerabledepth into the at least the portion of the individual provided theX-rays are configured to travel with a suitable frequency of the X-rayphotons at a suitable energy level, etc. Such X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing of at least partiallyinternal organs, bones, etc. can better be performed in some internallocation that is not at least partially hidden, distorted, or obscuredby bones, metal or other X-ray diffusive matter that may be based atleast partially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 may be configured such that the obtaining the X-rayfluorescence information such as can be obtained visually.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information from a variety of perspectives. For instance,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide different types of views. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to provide X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information and/or X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information insubstantially temporal and/or positional reflective condition, such ascould be detected by the user based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could provide X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information and/or X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at absolutelocations in space. For instance, a particular bone, joint, portion ofan organ, etc. could be located or situated at a precise position withrespect to the at least the portion of the individual 82, a device, alocation in space, a building or room, etc. Such determination of aposition, situation, or location could be determined using a globalpositioning system (GPS), another global positional program or device,or using a coordinate system or device relative to the at least theportion of the individual, or the location thereof. In addition to thelocation or position, there may be an indication of the condition of theparticular bone, joint, portion of the organ, etc. at that location.Once such positional information is obtained, certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldutilize, implant, generate at least portions of the X-ray fluorescencedepth visualizations, images, and/or provided information such as may beprovided using an additional or alternate X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing modality, anotherapplication, other maps, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that are so configured to provide goodresolution should be capable of providing 100 micron, or better,resolution based on the X-ray fluorescence technology. As described inthis disclosure, streak camera, pixilated streak cameras, CCDs,avalanche detectors, and other detector-type devices can be be used toprovide very good resolution and accuracy. With such resolution, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider could be used to determine positional information precisely andaccurately. Such combining of multiple imaging and/or X-ray fluorescencevisualizing modalities may limit the X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing computation necessary bycertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 by, for example, inputting image informationalready derived from other sources.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby provide for overlaying of combiningof the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding with other conventional and/or imaging modalities. Forexample, MRI could be overlaid on certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Conventional MRI can be used in combination with certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providingmodality that can be used in combination with X-rays, since MRI isgenerally understood to be highly accurate, provide considerable X-rayfluorescence visualizations, images, and/or provided information in themedical area, and can be quite expensive. As such, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can capture or otherwise obtain temporal/positional reflective X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing, and avariety of locative techniques in utilized to match recently obtainedMRI or other visualizing, imaging, or information providing modality canvisualize, image, or provide information (e.g., in one, two, or threedimensions) in the imaged region. For example, certain fiducials couldprovide position information for MRI (or other visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing modality) such as could also provide positioninformation for certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

As such, the location of the fiducials they can provide positioninformation for MRI could be used to co-locate the MRI and/or thesubsurface X-ray fluorescence. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, once theX-ray subsurface X-ray fluorescence X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, or provided information has been located withrespect to the other visualizing, imaging, or information providingmodality such as MRI, the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information, X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, or provided information relating to MRI can beimported, utilized, and/or displayed by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certain ofthe fiducial can be endogenous (such as blood within the blood vessel);while other fiducials can be exogenous (such as a bead which isimplanted under the skin.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can allow providing inputting higher energy,such as may result in demarcated finer structures within the X-rayfluorescence visualized, imaged, or information provided regions thatare located deeper into the at least the portion of the individual. Thiscontrol or adjustment of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing can result since a larger percentage of theX-ray based electromagnetic radiation (e.g., photons) have the abilityto be applied by the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 to travel within the at least the portion of theindividual to the deeper regions, fluoresce, and travel out again to bedetected. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can provide some amount ofadjustment, control, and/or shift to the X-ray based electromagneticradiation, which with certain embodiments can be varied, adjusted, orcontrolled, especially when X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing deeper matter, bones, or organs, etc. that maybe based at least partially on the densities, elements, chemicals,compounds, and/or biological materials included in or contained withinthe matter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are therefore useful in providing relativelydetailed X-ray fluorescence visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation about one or more of: matter, aberrative matter embedded intissues, bones, organs, etc. that may be based at least partially on thedensities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materialsincluded in or contained within the matter. A considerable number ofconventional imaging modalities may be useful for X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing at least some of thematter within the body of the individual with suitable resolution.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide some quantification, automatedobservation, and/or feedback associated with the X-ray fluorescence in atemporal/positional reflective basis, and in certain instances at avariety of controllable prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth(s). In certain instances, the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing can be performed through modifiable(in-vivo) matter with low latency. Illuminating electromagneticcharacteristics selected with characteristics having intensity andwavelengths selected to limit transmission of excessive electromagneticradiation (e.g., X-ray) into the body of the individual, and therebylimit X-ray dosages.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to scan across the surface168 (or through a region) of the at least the portion of the individual82. By comparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tocapture at least one X-ray fluorescence visualization, at least oneimage, and/or provide information substantially at the same time. Theparticular characteristics of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding modality are intended to be illustrative in nature, but notlimiting in scope.

At least portions of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can include scopes suchas endoscopes as described with respect to FIG. 30. Within thisdisclosure, the term “endoscope” can, depending on context, refer to anone of a variety of scopes that can be applied at least partiallyinternally or externally, such as to one or more of the tracts that areat least partially open that can include, but are not limited to: thegastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, the urinary tract, thefemale reproductive system, etc. Such X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing relative to the tracts can be for avariety of purposes including, but not limited to, examination forhealth, research, or medical purposes, screening for cancers or tumors,injuries, illnesses, infections, or sicknesses, reproductive conditions,abscesses, etc. For example, certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider can beconfigured as an “endrotracheal tube (ET), or other tube, that can havehad the appropriate components as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2.Certain embodiments of the endoscopes can be applied to normally closedlumens, cavities, and portions of the individual such as via a smallincision. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be used, for instance, todetermine where such small incisions may be situated, for example.

Certain embodiments of the endoscope-based embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 caninclude, but are not limited to, a rigid or flexible tube 1102, a lightdelivery system 1104, and the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider component(s). For instance, certain endoscope-basedembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to include zero, one, or more at leastone high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150; zero,one, or more at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151;zero, one, or more detector portion 152; and/or zero, one, or moredisplay portion 154, as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2. Othercomponents component of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that are not situated in the scope-basedembodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider can be included in other associated embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider.

FIGS. 38 to 41 show four embodiments of certain components of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information relative tothe at least the portion of the individual 82 that may be based at leastpartially on the densities, elements, chemicals, compounds, and/orbiological materials included in or contained within the matter. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize either wire-based or wireless communications totransfer data between related devices, such as the at least one detectorportion 152 and the at least one display portion, as described in thisdisclosure. In addition, certain networking, computing, imaging, andother well known techniques may be used to facilitate certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in this disclosure.

As described in this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 38 to 41, certainembodiment(s) component(s), and/or portion(s) of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured as anat least partially external device, while other embodiments can beconfigured as an at least partially internal device (and/or combinationthereof). FIG. 39 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, in which the at leastone high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 issituated at least partially externally to the at least the portion ofthe individual 82; while at least a portion of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 is situated at least partiallyexternally to the at least the portion of the individual.

FIG. 40 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 1or 2, in which the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 is situated at least partially internally to theat least the portion of the individual 82; while the at least a portionof the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 issituated at least partially externally to the at least the portion ofthe individual that may be based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter.

FIG. 41 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 1or 2, in which the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 is situated at least partially externally to theat least the portion of the individual 82; while the at least a portionof the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 issituated at least partially internally to the at least the portion ofthe individual that may be based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 40,certain portions of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the detector portion 152of FIG. 1 or 2), could be at least partially internally applied whileother portions of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the display portion 154of FIG. 1 or 2) can be at least partially externally applied. Certainembodiments of wireless, wired-based, data-transfor, image transfer, orother similar mechanism can allow for communication between the internaland external portions of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151.

FIG. 41 shows one embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 1or 2, in which the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 is situated at least partially internally to theat least the portion of the individual 82; while the at least a portionof the at least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 issituated at least partially internally to the at least the portion ofthe individual that may be based at least partially on the densities,elements, chemicals, compounds, and/or biological materials included inor contained within the matter. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 42,certain portions of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the detector portion 152of FIG. 1 or 2), could be at least partially internally applied whileother portions of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the display portion 154of FIG. 1 or 2) can be at least partially externally applied. Certainembodiments of wireless, wired-based, data-transfer, image transfer, orother similar mechanism can allow for communication between the internaland external portions of the at least one X-ray fluorescence receivingportion(s) 151.

There can be a variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 which may utilize atactile feedback such as to “transfer” some type of feel or touchsensation to the user. Such tactile feedback embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may beconsidered as one embodiment of the tool, as described in thisdisclosure such as relative to FIG. 28, and at other locations, forexample. For instance, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may include, or beassociated with, that can allow the operator such as a physician to“feel” at least some of the nodules such as to provide an indication asto whether they may wish to further examine by touch or feel, such aswith patients having cancer. The importance of the interrelationshipbetween sight and touch is well-recognized in many medical or healthfields. For example, doctors, veterinarians, dentists, assistants,researchers, etc. often provide their analysis of combination of feelingand seeing at least a portion of the individual, in combination.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in this disclosure, therebyprovide considerable sight (at least partially internally and/or atleast partially externally) in the form of imaging, X-ray fluorescencevisualization, and/or information providing. Such “sight” as can beprovider by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be combined with “touch”, whichcan be provider by certain embodiments of tactile feedback mechanisms.Such embodiments of the tactile feedback mechanism may include variouscomponents are mechanisms of automation, tactile feedback,remote-control, robotics, etc., as generally understood in thoserespective arts, and will not be described more fully in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the tactile feedback mechanism may beparticularly useful when the particular X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 is being applied at least partiallyinternally to the individual, such that the user cannot always see theinternal location. Such tactile feedback embodiments are especiallyuseful for certain doctors, surgeons, veterinarians, dentists,assistants, researchers, etc. with somewhat limited senses of touchand/or sight.

In certain instances, the tactile feedback may be partially associatedwith the diagnosis from a medical user such as a surgeon or doctor. Anumber of medical diagnosis, examination, treatment, and other practicesrely on a combination of sight in combination with touch. It is to beunderstood that during conventional breast cancer examinations, the“feel” or “touch” of the physician to detect breast cancer nodules in animportant portion of examination and/or diagnosis. Proctologists, forexample, are often forced to rely on touch or feel, since the ability tosee potential medical situations or conditions may be limited. As such,providing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider with tactile capabilities may beparticularly important in the diagnosis or treatment phases. Forexample, certain doctors may more directly locate or tactile “feel” forcancers, tumors, or which may be relatively hard as compared with thesurrounding matter, nodules, organs, tissue, fat, muscle, or othermatter. For dental users, the tactile feedback may by utilized inconjunction with a dental drill or pick, etc., such that the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be usedto indicate the degree and/or area of dental decay, etc. duringdrilling, etc. It is to be understood that many types of users maysimilarly benefit from the tactile feedback being provided by certaintools by certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be configured to provide a variety oftypes of tactile feedback. Tactile feedback may be based on hardness orsoftness of the matter, such as iron or calcium concentration, orconcentration of other matter. The tactile feedback system could involvefeeding a signal representing some aspect of touchability (e.g., thematter is hard, soft, resilient, etc.) from the tactile system back tothe instrument, such as can be displayed, and/or provided as sometactile output to the user. Certain embodiments of the instrument maynot be able to “feel” the feedback information in a similar manner as aperson, and as such certain tactile output information can be returnedfrom the at least one X-ray fluorescence visualization, image, and/orprovided information in image or data form. As such, the user of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider could receive feedback either visually and/or tactually.

In addition, certain types of tools can be configured to be actuatedbased on user input. Such tools may be configured as an endoscope, oralternately some devoted type of tool such as a cutter, scalpel,separator, tactile feedback provider, ablator, surgical suction, etc.Such actuation of at least portions of tool based on user input may beconsidered as a version of robotics, remote control, amplification,and/or automation. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured asallow controlled (e.g., robotic surgery), as well as image processing toprecisely detect organs, make incisions, cut matter away, ablate matter,X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relatingto a region in matter, etc.

Certain embodiments of the tactile feedback could be provided on a probeor other portion of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 itself, such as in an endoscope. The greaterthe tactile feedback can enhance certain surgical techniques forsurgeons, certain dental techniques for dentists, certain veterinariantechniques for veterinarians, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as to generate a tactile response that can be detected by aperson at least partially in response to the X-ray fluorescenceinformation. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to be minimallyinvasive to locate organ, and confirm whether it is at a perceivedlocation. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could allow surgeons, etc. to X-rayfluorescence visualize and/or operate such as to perform more complexsurgeries using “keyholes”, or incisions, within the patient.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 with tactile feedback can be configured toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information from alocation at least partially external to the at least the portion of theindividual. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider with tactile feedback can be configuredto X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information froma location at least partially internal to at least the portion of theindividual (either via a normally open location such as using anendoscope or via a normally closed location such as with an incision).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could therefore be utilized for a variety ofapplications and X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques outside of scope of confessional X-ray.For example, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could be situated, or made viewableto the at least the portion of the individual at their bedside such asthey may view. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be utilized as arelatively inexpensive alternative to MRI, for example, which doesn'tnecessarily enclose the body of the at least the portion of theindividual as is the case with MRI, CT, etc. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 maytherefore serve as a direct replacement, in certain applications, forsuch imaging technologies as MRI, CT, etc. In addition, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 might be preferred, in certain applications, to ultrasoundbecause of the considerable contrast of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider.

As described in this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 may be atleast partially steerable. Additionally, certain embodiments of thedetector portion 152 may be at least partially adjustable to control thedirection which it best receives X-ray-based electromagnetic radiation.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may therefore be configured such that the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 isrelatively closely aligned with the detector portion 152. Similarly,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be configured to such that the at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 moves into anapproximate alignment with the detector portion 152, in certainembodiment as to create a standing pattern such as may be utilized toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information relatingto a region utilizing scanning, such as is generally known with certaindisplay technologies. By utilizing such scanning embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,relatively good-quality X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be provided. Additionally, relatively lowpower may be necessary (as compared to other medical imagingmodalities), such as may be useful in limiting the exposure of the atleast the portion of the individual to relatively high-powered X-rays,as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to identify a trend ofpattern correlating to the change in state to a pattern corresponding toa macrostate. These patterns can be correlated to a target indicative ofa particular condition. By comparing the X-ray fluorescence visualized,imaged, or information provided pattern with the pattern recognized asrepresenting a condition, illness, etc. The information, data, patterns,etc. can be maintained in a database, the pattern of information can beused for a prognosis of the condition, illness, etc. The use ofinformation, data, patterns, etc. as can be received by or pr processedfrom X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon,particle, etc.) from X-ray fluorescence can therefore be quite usefulfor a variety of purposes.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to use selected portion ofnew X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providingslice information, and higher resolution info to produce composite X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information (havingenhanced resolution) as compared to original X-ray fluorescencevisualizations, images, or provided information. Also, producing thiscan be responsive to matter deformation modeling. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be configured to consider information that can be not onlyanatomically obtained, but also functionally obtained. (Instead or inaddition to displaying info, correlate to a bio-state, or change instate. Change in state from a plurality of locations).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured such as their at least onehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and their atleast one detector portion 152 integral to a tool (surgical,examination, positioning, scope-type, tactile feedback provider,luminal, etc.). In certain instances, the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may provide a proximity sensorfunction to the tool. For example, the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 may be sized such as to emit (insubstantially 4π or 2π steradians) at a desired frequency and/or energylevel based on the prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth thatis being examined or that the tool is being positioned, and the detectorportion may be a pixilated X-ray detector portion array, an avalanchedetector array, a CCD array, etc. Examples of X-ray detectors mayinclude, but are not limited to, pixilated streak cameras, streakcameras, CCD devices, avalanche detectors, or other devices. Withcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) may produce radiation, where the detector portion is not apixilated array (e.g., including a Kulikov lens, and/or a Bragg lens).Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 might include the high energy photon and/orparticle emitter portion(s) at the distal end of the tool, and thedetector portion separated there from either in close proximity or by aconsiderable distance in a manner desirable to provide suitable X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 might be particularly useful if positioned on, integratedinto, or otherwise associated with the tool (e.g., situated on the tipof a probe or cutter, on at least one tip of scissors, on forceps, onneedles, etc.). FIG. 44, for example, illustrates one embodiment of thetool (surgical knife) including an embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. For the purpose of thisdisclosure, certain endoscopes as described with respect with FIG. 28can be considered as tools that can include certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Certain embodiments of tools may also be associated with a tactilefeedback mechanism that provides at least some tactile feedback, whichby themselves may be considered as another embodiment of tool withinthis disclosure. It may therefore be desirable to position certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 on, proximate to, or to provide viewability of, operativesurfaces of a variety of such tools as surgical tools, tactile feedbackproviders, etc. Such embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can thereby provide a X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing from theviewpoint of the tool.

Implants, constructs, pins, screws, etc. such as may be positionedwithin the individual may be considered as one embodiment of the tool,which may include certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Additionally, certainimplants, constructs, pins, screws, etc. can be viewed as tools that ininclude certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can providean added benefit, such that when a user such as a surgeon is placing apedicle screw, it is highly desired to stay within the pedicle becauseif the surgeon goes outside they may contact a nerve root. As such, theembodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can act as a pedicle guide. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canthereby be considered to combine with a warning system that can utilizecertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 can include, as data or information, a varietyof individual information, such as patient information, injury, illness,and if the user (doctor, dentist, veterinarian, etc.) is positioning thetool at an undesired location or performing some undesired procedure(e.g., at the wrong side of the patient's body), in which instance asuitable alarm may be actuated in the event of a suitable event.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be configured as a surgical tool,certain of which may be configured to act as a proximity sensor, whileoutput from others may be displayed. It is envisioned that the at leastone high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or theat least one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 could beintegral to the surgical tool and/or tactile feedback provider. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to image once multiple times, or caninclude a number of or at least one displaceable high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) to provide scanning. In certaininstances, upon the surgical tool being positioned relative to the atleast the portion of the individual is configurable to emit X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation suitable to image to a controllable prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth into an at least one matter of atleast a portion of the individual to be used to derive X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, or provided information atleast partially in response to X-ray fluorescence of the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation. The detector portion may also be integral tothe surgical tool and/or tactile feedback provider that is operable, andas such may be alignable and/or controllable. Certain embodiments of thehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) may includescopes, but may also be at least partially externally situated. Certainof the at least partially internal embodiments may be inserted throughinsertion or via a normally open opening to be at least partiallyapplied relative to at least a portion of the individual such as toreceive at least one X-ray fluorescence that has been X-ray fluorescencein an at least one matter, etc. of the at least the portion of theindividual.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controlling 97 are configured particularly togenerate the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations or images that canbe displayed over the display portion 154 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2, and other locations through this disclosure. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controlling 97, as described withrespect to FIG. 43, can be configured to produce information that can bedisplayed over certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, which can be observed by the userand/or individual (human). Consider, for example, the embodiment of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 thatcan scan individuals for such aspects as cancers (e.g., breast cancer,melanomas), tumors, blood vessel locations (perhaps in diabetics toprovide insulin shots), heart condition, bone fragments or portions(especially useful at certain sporting events, etc.), burn victimexamination, and/or a variety of emergencies or situations which avariety of emergency, rescue, medical, as well as individuals who wishto examine themselves at locations remote from conventional imagingequipment are likely to encounter.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider can utilize lower power requirements andconventional imagers since they rely on X-ray fluorescence of X-raysinstead of transmission X-rays (i.e., the latter requires providingenough energy to the X-ray photons to pass the X-ray photons through theimage portion of the individual, instead of X-ray fluorescence withinthe individual as with the former). Since less energies required fortypical operation of the X-ray fluorescence depth and X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100; they can thereby beconfigured to operate with reduced input voltages.

It is feasible that certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be made lighterand/or to use less power than conventional power supplies in medicalclinics, homes, offices, vehicles, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can therebybe made considerably more portable than conventional imaging equipment.There are a variety of use of the term “porable” within this disclosure.Within this disclosure, certain uses of the term “portability” can,depending on context, relate to those embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can becarried by a person. As such, an ambulance attendant, a fireman, a skipatrol, a rescue worker, or other user could carry, roll, or movecertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 to where the individual is by carrying itthemselves. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could be brought out to a sportingevent, car race, etc. where an individual (such as a football player,horseback rider, etc.) is likely to be located and/or injured to gaugethe injuries to the person. It is also desirable that certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be removed from a vehicle, such as an ambulance orother car or truck, and could be removed portably to allow relativelysimplified transit to the person.

Within this disclosure, other uses of the term “portability” can,depending on context, relate to those embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can betransported portably as a self-contained and self-powered unit. As such,the energy source (which may include a battery device and/or a capacitordevice, etc.) may provide suitable primary or auxiliary power to certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 be transported to a remote location and operate thereatthat location. In general, more complex and sophisticated imagers willutilize more power and/or electricity than lower resolution visualizersor information providers, and as such the lesser power consuming devicesmight be more appropriate for portable transporting.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore be configured to be portable in amanner as to be transportable based at least partially on theconventional techniques of transportation/commuting. For example,certain remote portions of many countries are accessible primarily byfoot or animal, and as such a person or animal would have to carry theembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 where needed. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be transported bya ship, car, truck, military vehicle, ambulance, animal, etc. as toallow relatively high quality imaging, visualizing, or informationproviding even at very remote locations or separate from consistent orreliable electrical supplies.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include an electrical adaptor to allowoperation based at least partially on one ore more local electricalsources. Certain embodiments of the adapter to be used in conjunctionwith the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 could utilize a transformer (which might be controllable) as toallow the current or voltage source to the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to be adapted, ifdesired. This adapter may be particularly useful for certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 which may be applied to a primary power source during certainoperations, and then electrically disconnected and applied totransported to another location (such as remote, in a vehicle, or at adifferent voltage/current supply) where there might be a varied powersource, an inconsistent or non-existent power source.

By allowing certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 to operate using relatively lowpower as compared to conventional imaging systems, is likely that theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, and/or information providingsystems can be utilized in regions remote from sophisticated electricalinfrastructure. As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be applied to remotemedical facilities, or regions, sporting events, office locations,relatively poor or remote regions, villages, islands, etc. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can thereby be situated where the medical, dental, rescue,emergency, or other need is (e.g., where sick, injured, or otherindividuals to be examined may be situated), as compared to whererelatively large power supplies or complex or expensive imagingequipment may be located.

As such, certain portable embodiments of the at least the portion of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canutilize such portable energy-provided devices as fuel cells, batteries,generator, etc. By allowing a wide range of portable energy sources,such as allowed by relatively low power usage by certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,relatively portable embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing solutions can be provided.

Various embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include a variety of memory for a portabledevice. The different embodiments of memories can be configured to limitthe energy usage by the embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 during portable (ornon-portable) X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding. For instance, the memory capacity may in certain instanceslimit the images acquired.

One example of a scenario for certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is that theimages could be viewed in real time, and nothing is stored. Anotherexample of a scenario for certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is that the image can bestored in a memory device within the device either before, during, orafter displaying (or the images may not even be displayed). Anotherexample of a scenario for certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is that the images canbe transmitted to a storage device distant from the portable unit. Theseexamples are intended to be illustrative in nature, but not limiting inscope.

As such, certain user-operated embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to beused in, and are designed to be suitable to be used in, the particularlocation of the user (e.g., doctor's office, operating room, emergencycenter, rescue vehicle, ambulance, dentist office, veterinarian, avehicle, the individual's home or office, a remote village, etc.) toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide information at leasta portion of the individual, or receive information relating to theindividual. Certain individual-operated, home-based, office based, orother remote embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to be used in, and aredesigned to be suitable to be used in) the home, office, or otherlocation of the user that can be used by the user (who may be theindividual) as a home-style version to X-ray fluorescence visualize,image, and/or provide information at least a portion of the individual,or receive information relating to the individual. The differentuser-operated or individual-operated embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can eachhave varied functions and/or operations.

Considering the privacy issues, and the time required for patients tovisit doctors, etc., the individual-operated embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to allow people, and other individuals, to monitor a varietyof aspects of their own condition. Consider the privacy, flexibility,independence, and other benefits that home pregnancy tests have providedfor women. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to provide X-rayfluorescence depth visualization, images, and/or associated informationrelated to a variety of other conditions, illnesses, injuries,infections, sicknesses, and other conditions, medical, and/or routinecheck-up aspects. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could even be designedbased, at least partially, on X-ray radiation limiting, user input,ergonomics, quality of imaging, and other such factors; and might beupdated, improved, and changed as appropriate based on usage andfeedback considerations.

Certain embodiments of the individual-operated embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to be devoted to only one, or a relatively few, devoted task(e.g., cancer or tumor scans, blood vessel locator, bone fragmentdetector, etc.). By being devoted to a few specific tasks, these devotedembodiments of the individual-operated embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be maderelatively inexpensively, and relatively simple, for the individualand/or other person using it. Consider that patients, family members,friends, etc. would typically be expected to have relatively littletraining and/or experience with imaging systems, and as such, certainembodiments should be made relative straight forward to understand withrelatively little training.

By applying certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 to conventional imaging equipment,certain devoted tasks, logic, computer programming, electroniccircuitry, and/or other processing circuitry can make relatively clearanalysis, determinations, prognosis, etc. as compared certain relativelyexpensive and multi-use conventional imaging equipment such as MRIs andCAT scan devices. As such, a particularly exemplary embodiment of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canbe configured for a particular of a few devoted operations such asexamining for such conditions, infections, illnesses, or injuries asmelanomas, cancers, tumors, bone condition, tissue condition, ligamentor tendon condition, etc. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be designed, forexample, to scan region of the individual for such aberrations as theymay occur.

Thereupon, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 can be configured todetermine logically (using a combination of hardware, software,firmware, as described in this disclosure) whether the condition fallswithin limits as to require further examination, for example. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to provide such devoted tasks with outputin the form of imaging and/or X-ray fluorescence visualization. Althoughcertain embodiments of these devoted devices can more suitably, and lessexpensively, output one or more of a variety of information resulting atleast partially from some analysis and processing in a non-image-basedmode (e.g., text, graphics, analysis output, etc.) which could be ofconsiderable use both to trained and/or untrained users.

There are a variety of techniques by which certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 thatcan X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information towithin the X-ray fluorescence range to a prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth in atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Certainof these techniques are illustrated in FIGS. 45 and 46, for example.

FIG. 45, for example, illustrates an embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information to withinthe X-ray fluorescence range between the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth 168,170 a, 170 b in at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual by applying a number of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 m, the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 n, and the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 o that respectively X-ray fluorescence atrespective fluorescing events sitated at differing respective prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding depth 168, 170 a, 170 b to provide respective at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 as can travel along paths 122 m,122 n, and 122 o. Though the number of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 m, 120 n, and 120 o are illustrated as beingapplied at different angles (such as from multiple high energy photonand/or particle emitter portions are different angles, or from a singlehigh energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) through severalcollimators), it should be understood that though these the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 m, 120 n, and 120 o canbe applied parallel or spaced from each other, such as being providefrom an array. The respective at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122 as traveling along respective paths 122 m, 122 n, and 122 ocan be detected by certain embodiments of the at least one X-rayfluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.

FIG. 46, for example, illustrates an embodiment of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that canX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information to withinthe X-ray fluorescence range between the prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth 168,170 a, 170 b in at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual by the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 applying a single the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 p that fluoresces at respectivefluorescing events situated at differing respective prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding depth 168, 170 a, 170 b to provide respective at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 that can travel along paths 122 p,122 q, and 122 r. The respective paths 122 p, 122 q, and 122 r can bedetected by certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151.

Certain characteristics of electromagnetic waves, currents, flows,fields, etc. (including aspects relating to X-rays, X-ray photons,electrons, etc.) is described in The Electrical Engineering HandbookSecond Edition, Richard C. Dorf, CRC Press/IEEE Press. Certain types ofX-rays, which may be characterized broadly as electromagnetic waves,particles, fields, currents, etc., can be controlled, adjusted, varied,weakened, intensified, directed, etc. utilizing certain shielding,shaping, and/or electromagnetic controller techniques; such as aregenerally understood by those skilled in electrical engineering and/orelectromagnetics. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilize X-rays,electromagnetic signals, particles, waves, etc. for X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing.

2. Controllable and/or Adjustable Embodiments of the X-Ray FluorescenceVisualizer, Imager, or Information Provider

As described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 and at other locations inthis disclosure, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilize a variety ofthe high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) (as well asassociated elements) to direct controllable amounts such as energylevels of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 toward and/or through matter of at least a portion of theindividual. The at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 can X-ray fluorescence by the matter of the at least a portion ofthe individual based on X-ray fluorescence aspects and equations, and atleast partially on element composition of the at least some matter, asdescribed in this disclosure. Based upon the amount of X-rayfluorescence, the energy level of the X-ray photons following the X-rayfluorescing event (corresponding to the characteristic frequency of thetarget atom 151, and other such X-ray fluorescence characteristics, canbe utilized during a variety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing.

There are a variety of techniques by which and parameters of which thecertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be controlled and/or adjusted. For example,known image processing, optical, X-ray, and other techniques may be usedto zoom, rotate, move in or out along a focal axis, or perform othersuch techniques. Such mechanisms to control at least some aspects of theX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information provided may beparticularly useful to allow the user to obtain the desired X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, or provided information. Suchadjusted or controlled X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing techniques can be performed with motion images(e.g., video), or a series of still images. Certain embodiments of suchadjusted or controlled X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing techniques can be used to examine the desired atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, at thedesired magnification, and/or at the desired angle, etc.

In the instance of a surgeon, for example, the adjusting and/or controlcan be used to examine the desired at least some matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual at the desired rate such that the desiredregion of the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual can be X-ray visualized, imaged, or information provided inthe desired manner.

There are a variety of controllability of adjustability aspects for avariety of embodiments of X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing to a variety of prescribed depths. For instance,certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide control and/or adjustment of theX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information down to aprescribed depth, such that certain elements, chemicals, or compoundsthat are being particularly scanned for that are within that depth fromthe surface (e.g., iron for hemoglobin, or certain elementscharacteristic of particular types of cancer or tissue, etc.) should beindicated. While such scans within a range of depths may lack theclarity of scans limited to a relatively thin depth, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100, such techniques for scanning for particular elements, as describedin this disclosure, can be effectively performed and reliably indicatedeven through a prescribed depth range of matter. Such control and/oradjustment can be applied to surface scans through a prescribed depthcan be from outside the individual, or at least partially internal tothe individual such as via a surgical opening, a naturally occurringopening, or a minimally invasive opening such as for a scope-type devicethat may or may not be associated with a tool.

By comparison, certain embodiments of the control and/or adjustment ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information within aprescribed depth range. For instance, it may be desired to determinewhat is in some matter of the at least the portion of the individual atsome prescribed depth from a surface (at least partially internal or atleast partially external) from a tool being used. Such control oradjustment of the range of prescribed depths being X-ray fluorescencevisualized, imaged, or information provided can be under control of theuser, or alternately under control of a controller, computer, hardwareand/or software component, etc. as may be included in certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 as described in this disclosure.

In certain instances, the energy level of the X-ray photons beingapplied to the matter of the individual can be ramped up, decreased,modified, maintained, etc. as described in this disclosure with respectto FIGS. 47 to 50. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can thereby X-rayfluorescence visualize, image, or provide information relating toparticular matter based at least partially on increasing, reducing,modifying, or maintaining the energy levels of the X-ray photons (andthereby conversely decreasing the frequency of the X-ray photons)included in the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120, and thereby controlling and/or adjusting the operation of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider. As the energylevel of the X-ray photons respectively increases or decreases, withinthe at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth of a considerable majority of thephotons can thereupon generally correspondingly increase or decrease,though not typically in a linear fashion.

While the embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described with respect to FIGS. 47 to 50illustrate the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150 whose output is controlled by an additional device; inactuality the distinct added device can be considered as an integralportion of the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion. As such, certain embodiments of the at least one high energyphoton and/or particle emitter portion(s) may be considered asconfigured to apply adjustable and/or controllable the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 toward the at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual.

As described above, there can be a variety of mechanisms that can beused to adjust and/or control certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, largelybased on operation of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 to control and/or adjust the energylevel, frequency, or other characteristics of the X-ray photons includedin the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120and/or the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122. Bycontrolling the energy level, frequency, or other characteristics of theX-ray photons included in the at least one applied high energy photonand/or particle 120 and/or the at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton 122, the respective distance which a prescribed percentage of theat least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 and/or theat least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 can pass through theat least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual canbe adjusted or controlled (thereby controlling the depth of X-rayfluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing. Forinstance, controlling or adjusting the energy level of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 can control or adjust thepercentage of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 that passes for certain prescribed distances through the atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Bycomparison, controlling or adjusting the energy level of the at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 can control or adjust thepercentage of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 thatpasses for certain prescribed distances through the at least some matterof the at least the portion of the individual. There are othermechanisms which may be utilized to control and/or adjust this X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing ofcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

The modification, control, adjustment, etc. in the characteristics ofX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing intothe matter of the at least the portion of the individual may notnecessarily follow a linear function relative to the increasing energylevels of the X-ray photons making up the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120. In addition, since the matter of suchindividuals is not homogenous, the rate of X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing may vary as a functionof the material within the individual being imaged. For example, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured for imaging at least partially throughbone would be expected to differ considerably (e.g., requiringdifferent, likely increased, energy levels of the photons) as comparedto the imaging characteristics required for less dense matter such astissue, fluids such as blood or water, tumors, gums (dental), variousorgans, etc. As such, certain embodiment of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toadjust and/or control the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to theat least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth such as byusing a variety of techniques as described in this disclosure.

FIG. 47 shows another embodiment of the control or adjustment mechanism302, in which an anode switching or modifying mechanism (e.g., toinclude an adjustable anode wheel, or varying photon generator, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 13 or 14) can allow for physicallyaltering or changing of the anode 834. Certain embodiments of the anode834 have been described with respect to FIG. 13 or 14. For instance,certain embodiments of the anode wheel as described with respect to FIG.13 is described with respect to FIG. 47. The anode wheel can be rotated(e.g., using a step or motor, etc.), such as to align a different anodesuch as might have different materials, configurations, and/ordimensions, etc. such as to allow a change in the anode that is incommunication with the electron stream, thereby providing varied energylevels (e.g., frequencies of X-ray photons) for the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120. Certain embodiments of the anodewheel 4202 can be rotated or displaced about an axis 4204, such as byusing a stepper motor or other suitable actuator, such as to operablyposition at least one anode 834 of the desired material, size, shape,configuration, etc. within the high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) as desired. Positioning an anode having the desiredcharacteristics within the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) as described with respect to FIG. 13 effectively generatesthe at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 havingthe desired characteristics (e.g., X-ray photon energy level andcorresponding frequency). Additionally, certain embodiments of thephoton generator 880, as described with respect to FIG. 14, can beconfigured to provide X-ray photons having varied intensities and/orfrequencies, such that could be used to control and/or adjust certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. For example, the photon generator as described withrespect to FIG. 14 could include multiple distinct photons generators,each of which could be individually actuated as to provide acontrollable and/or adjustable version of the at least one applied highenergy photon and/or particle 120 having the desired X-ray photonfrequency and/or energy level characteristics.

FIG. 48 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 including one embodiment of acontrol or adjustment mechanism 302 that can be utilized by certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider, in which the angle of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 can be adjusted or controlled by varying theangle relative to the surface 168 of the at least the portion of theindividual 82. As the angle of the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 changes, the at least one X-ray fluorescencerange to the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencedepth can vary as a cosine function of the angle. As such, increasingthe angle at which the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 is applied can therefore increase the distance of thematter through which the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 passes, and correspondingly reduce the at least one X-rayfluorescence range (measured perpendicular to the surface) to the atleast one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth in apredictable, adjustable, and/or controllable fashion.

FIG. 49 shows another embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 including another embodiment of thecontrol or adjustment mechanism 302, in which an X-ray depth-imagingdepth reducing mechanism can be operationally applied between the atleast one high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 thesurface of the at least the portion of the individual (or at some otherlocations) as to limit the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to theat least one X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding depth to reduce the energy level of the X-ray photons beingapplied to the at least the portion of the individual. Consider that, ingeneral, as the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle120 travel through the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual, they typically lose energy. As such, the X-ray depth-imagingdepth reducing mechanism can be configured is any device or mechanismthat can similarly reduce the energy level of the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 prior to being applied to the atleast the portion of the individual. Certain embodiments of theadjustment or control mechanism 44 as illustrated in FIG. 49 couldinclude an X-ray energy level or frequency modulator or modifier.

As such, the effective at least one substantial X-ray fluorescencewithin the at least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least oneX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing depthof the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 canenter into the matter of the at least the portion of the individual canbe reduced by initially passing through certain embodiments of the X-raydepth-imaging depth reducing mechanism can be reduced. Certain X-raydepth-imaging depth reducing mechanism to embodiments of the control oradjustment mechanism 302 can effectively decrease the energy leveland/or frequency of the X-ray photons included in the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120. Various X-raydepth-imaging depth reducing mechanism to arrange for a layer ofmaterial that at least partially dissipates the energy of the X-rayphotons, to at least one semiconductor device or other mechanism thatcan modulate X-ray frequencies and thereby reduce energies, etc.

FIG. 49 shows another embodiment of the adjustable or controllablemechanism 302 by which a variety of filters would be applied to the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 to filter outat least certain frequency X-rays, while allowing at least otherfrequency X-rays to pass. Certain embodiments of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 thereby can includemultiple X-ray generators, multiple anodes, or multiple devices thateach can generate X-rays photons having a distinct frequency.Alternately, certain embodiments of the at least one high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 can generate a broadband X-rayincluding X-rays having a range of frequencies, only certain ones ofwhich are allowed to pass through the filter embodiment of theadjustment or control mechanism 302. For instance, FIG. 49 shows onefiltering embodiment of the adjustment or control mechanism 302 thatallows X-ray photons having frequency corresponding to the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 x to pass, while limitingthe ability of X-ray photons having frequencies corresponding to the atleast one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 y and 120 z topass.

There are therefore a variety of configurations of various embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 that can include a variety of types of adjustment or controlmechanism 302 by which the energy level of X-ray photons can becontrolled or adjusted. Certain embodiments of the at least one highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at leastone X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151 can be configured inarrays, or by having slightly different operating characteristics. Assuch, one or more of the at least one high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion(s) 150 and/or the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can be actuated and/or deactuated, depending oncharacteristic, position, angle, etc. such as to allow for controland/or adjustment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orproviding information modalities.

Additionally, certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151 can be directed, positioned, angled, filtered,or otherwise operated to only receive certain X-ray fluorescence highenergy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle, etc.). While theseembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 are not illustrated, it is to be understood that certainembodiments of the adjustment or control mechanism 302 can be situatedrelative to the at least one high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion(s) 150, relative to the at least one X-ray fluorescencereceiving portion(s) 151, at some median location, or elsewhere. Certainembodiments of the adjustment or control mechanism 302 can be software,hardware, firmware, and/or processor intensive such as to only considercertain of the X-ray fluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray,photon, particle, etc.) as received by certain embodiments of the atleast one X-ray fluorescence receiving portion(s) 151.

The various exemplary embodiments of the adjustment or control mechanism302 as described with respect to FIGS. 47 to 50 are intended to beillustrative in nature, but not limiting in scope. Any of a variety oftechniques by which the frequency (and the corresponding energy level)of the at least one applied high energy photon and/or particle 120 beingapplied to the at least some matter of the at least a portion of theindividual may be considered as another embodiment of the adjustment orcontrol mechanism, within the scope of the present disclosure.

Additionally, certain embodiments of the adjustment or control mechanismcan be applied to respectively adjust or control the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon 122 fluorescing from the fluorescingevent within the matter of the at least the portion of the at least aportion of the individual. A variety of such adjustment or controltechniques such as filtering, correlating, controlling, or selectivelymonitoring certain X-ray photon frequency or energy levels of the X-rayfluorescence high energy (e.g., X-ray, gamma ray, photon, particle,etc.).

There may be some of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 that are being altered such as by ramping, reducing,modification, maintaining, in which the at least one applied high energyphoton and/or particle 120 is applied to the matter of the individualcan X-ray fluorescence within the at least one X-ray fluorescence rangeto the at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing depth for that particularor instantaneous X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding period. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tolimit the effects of the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 that are returning from a depth greater than the within theat least one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth. Additionally, the X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingeffects of these the at least one applied high energy photon and/orparticle 120 can be included in the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing, with any distortive effects duringthe ramping operation either ignored, filtered, and/or otherwise limitedusing signal processing techniques.

Such increase or ramping of the energy level of the at least one appliedhigh energy photon and/or particle 120 can be performed by thoseembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that can be tuned. The rate of ramping (e.g., the rate ofthe photon energy level) can thereby be set or controlled eithermanually or by setting the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97. Experimentation could be used toprovide an indication of a suitable ramping rate for the particularmatter(s) of the at least the portion of the individual.

With a ramping function, each increase in the energy of the at least oneapplied high energy photon and/or particle 120 such as would be expectedto provide an increase in the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth whichcan be monitored by the X-ray fluorescence receiving assembly. Forexample, certain pulse signals can initially be applied, and time offlight calculations can be utilized to determine the within the at leastone X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantialX-ray fluorescence depth.

3. Certain Embodiments of the X-Ray Fluorescence Visualization, Imaging,or Information Providing Controller

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97 as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2, which is intended tocontrol and/or adjust X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing by the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 of at least the portion of the individuals 82.Certain embodiments of the at least one X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 cancontrol and/or adjust a variety of aspects of X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing by the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 within the at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual and/or within atleast one X-ray fluorescence range to the at least one prescribedsubstantial X-ray fluorescence depth as described in this disclosure. Assuch, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can operate without, and/or with littleinteraction from, the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97. By comparison, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can utilize considerable input from, and/or entirely utilizing inputfrom, the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby include the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1 or 2; while other embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider may notinclude utilizing the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller. For example, certainscintillator-based and/or fluoroscope-based embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider may convertreceived X-ray based photons directly into viewable and/or visiblephotons (which may or may not be amplified using a photomultiplier orCCD) to allow direct X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, which may limit the necessity of image processingthat may largely rely on the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing controller 97. By comparison, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can utilize input from the user, such as to determinelocation, angle, position, resolution, X-ray frequency, energy level,time of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding, and other such X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing related factors or characteristics. Such X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcharacteristics may be selected, controlled, and/or altered usingcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97.

Some X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding information, data, images, signals, etc. associated withcertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 and/or the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 may be digital based,while other embodiments may be analog based. For instance, certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 including the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97, which are largely digital and/ormicroprocessor-based, can provide for largely automated actuation ofX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingand/or signals of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 and/or the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider(s) 104. A number of the components ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider(s)104 may rely on analog and/or digital controllers and/or computers whichmay be capable of generating signals with considerable power. Otherlower-powered signals from the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider(s) 104 may be either analog and/or digitallycontrolled. Certain X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 that are configured to turnparticular circuits on or off, for example, may be particularlyefficient and/or effective if digital based. Certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 can be configured to, upon a normal operation, compensatefor at least some distortion as can be provided by the X-rayfluorescence depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing regionof the at least the portion of the individual. FIG. 1 or 2 can representa block diagram of certain respective embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that caninclude the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 to either control and/or adjust the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing within theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider, or someother related operations.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured in which an energy levelrequired to image using conventional transmissive X-ray technologies tothe controllable or adjustable ones of the within the at least one X-rayfluorescence range to the at least one prescribed substantial X-rayfluorescence depth. In certain instances, the energy intrusion level canbe less (and in certain instances, considerably less) than the energyintrusion level required to image using conventional transmissive X-raytechnology through the entirety of the at least the portion of theindividual 82. By using reduced to X-ray dosages, certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can image, utilize, or provide information while remaining within a safeemitted radiation level for the individual as well as though one or moreusers, which can result from application of smaller dosages. Certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 can even be configured to monitor,change, adjust, or maintain X-ray exposure levels within the at leastthe portion of the individual, X-ray exposure levels by the individualand/or the user(s), and/or X-ray levels in the vicinity of theindividual and/or the user, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 are configured to provide controland/or adjustability of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 based, at least in part, on the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing operationand/or configuration of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider. For example, if a user wishes to control and/oradjust an angle, a position, an X-ray photon frequency or energy level,a resolution, the within the at least one X-ray fluorescence range tothe at least one prescribed substantial X-ray fluorescence depth, or atleast one other X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing parameter; then the user could provide suitableinput to the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97. Such input to the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 can beprovided via the input/output interface, which in certain embodimentsmay be a graphical user interface (GUI), for example.

If the user wishes to X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to a portion of the individual on a realtime basis, a continuous basis, a sequential basis, or anotherrepetitive basis, then the type of X-ray fluorescence depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing can also be selected using theinput/output interface 811 of the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Certain embodiments ofthe input/output interface 811 can additionally provide an indication tothe user of some aspect of the X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information, such as if the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider is incapable of the depthimaging, X-ray fluorescence visualizing, or information providing; andwill likely not expose the user and/or individual to unacceptable X-raydosages, etc.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby include, but are not limited to, avariety of configurations of the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 can also be at least partially computer based, controllerbased, mote based, cellular telephone-based, and/or electronics based.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller can be segmented into modules, and canutilize a variety of wireless communications and/or networkingtechnologies to allow information, data, etc. to be transferred to thevarious distinct portions or embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 can be configured as a unitary device, a networked device,a stand alone device, and/or any combination of these and other knowntype devices.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 can vary as to their automation,complexity, and/or sophistication; and can be utilized to control,setup, establish, and/or maintain communications between a number ofcommunicating devices during X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing operation(s). As described within thisdisclosure, multiple ones of the different embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 cantransfer information or data relating to the communication link to orfrom a remote location and/or some intermediate device as might beassociated with communication, monitoring and/or other activities.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can vary as to the particular X-rayfluorescence visualization modality, imaging modality, and/orinformation providing modality.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97, as well as certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100(in general), can utilize distinct firmware, hardware, and/or softwaretechnology. For example, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can at least partiallyutilize one or more of: mote-based technology, microprocessor-basedtechnology, microcomputer-based technology, display technology, imagingtechnology, general-purpose computer technology, specific-purposecomputer technology, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (AASICs),and/or a variety of other computer, electronics, electromagnetic,imaging, X-ray fluorescence visualizing, and/or information providingtechnologies, such as can be utilized by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providercontroller 97.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 can as described with respect toFIG. 1 or 2 can include depending on context a processor 803 such as acentral processing unit (CPU), a memory 807, a circuit or circuitportion 809, and an input output interface (I/O) 811 that may include abus (not shown). Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 caninclude and/or be a portion of a general-purpose computer, aspecific-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, apersonal display assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a wirelesscommunicating device, a hard-wired communication device, and/or anyother known suitable type of communications device or phone, computer,and/or controller that can be implemented in hardware, software,electromechanical devices, and/or firmware. Certain embodiments of theprocessor 803, as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 2, can perform theprocessing and arithmetic operations for certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 cancontrol the signal processing, database querying and response,computational, timing, data transfer, and other processes associatedwith X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingsuch as can be adjusted by and/or controlled by certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 (depending in part of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing processbeing attempted or performed by the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100), will undergo considerable imageprocessing by the processor 803. Particularly, those embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 thatcan X-ray fluorescence visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to a relatively large area, image to relatively highresolution, image continuously, sequentially, and/or repetitively willprovide a large amount of images or image information. As such, certainembodiments of the components of the X-ray fluorescence visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 should be designed andconfigured to handle the type of X-ray fluorescence visualization,image, and/or provided information processing that the subsurface X-rayfluorescence image processing will be exposed. Certain types of imagecompression (e.g., lossy and/or lossless data compression techniques)may be utilized in the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 to limit production or storage ofexcessive volumes of redundant data.

Certain embodiments of the memory 807 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 caninclude a random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM) thattogether can store the computer programs, operands, and other parametersthat control the operation of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100. The memory 807 can be configurable to contain data, information,images, X-ray fluorescence visualizations, image information, etc. thatcan be obtained, retained, or captured by that particular X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of the bus canbe configurable to provide for digital information transmissions betweenthe processor 803, circuits 809, memory 807, I/O 811, the X-rayfluorescence visualization, image, and/or provided information memory orstorage device (which may be integrated or removable), other portionswithin the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider(s) 104, and/or other portions outside of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider(s) 104. In this disclosure,the memory 807 can be configurable as RAM, flash memory,semiconductor-based memory, of any other type of memory that can beconfigurable to store data pertaining to X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information. Certain embodimentsof the bus can also connects I/O 811 to the portions of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of either the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can either receivedigital information from, or transmit digital information to otherportions of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, or other systems and/or networking components associatedtherewith.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2, can include a separate, distinct, combined,and/or associated transmitter portion (not shown) that can be eitherincluded as a portion of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 can alternately be provided as aseparate and/or combined unit (e.g., certain embodiments might beprocessor-based and/or communication technology-based).

Certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as described withrespect to FIG. 1 or 2 can include an operation altering or controllingportion (described with respect to FIG. 37) that can be either includedas a portion of certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, oralternately can be provided as a separate or combined unit.

Certain embodiments of the memory 807 can provide an example of a memorystorage portion. In certain embodiments, the monitored value includesbut is not limited to: a percentage of the memory 807, an indication ofdata that is or can be stored in the memory 807, or for data storage orrecording interval. Such memory can include information about theindividual, the treatment, the user, the treating or examining facility,etc.; and also may include one or more X-ray fluorescence visualization,image, or provided information as provided by certain embodiments of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, oralternately as can be provided by another X-ray fluorescencevisualization, image, or information source such as tomography X-rayfluorescence visualizations, images, or provided information, MRI, CTscan, PET scan, etc. such as can be used to provide a combined image,X-ray fluorescence visualization, or information. To provide foroverflow ability for the memory 807 of certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100, a secondary storage device can be operably coupled to the memory807 to allow a controllable transmitting of memory data from certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 when the monitored valueof data or other information within the memory 807 exceeds a prescribedvalue. The prescribed value can include, e.g., some percentage amount orsome actual amount of the value.

In certain embodiments, a secondary communication link can beestablished between the certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Thesecondary communication link can be structured similar to as acommunication link, or alternatively can utilize network-based computerconnections, Internet connections, etc. to provide information and/ordata transfer between certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

In certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the particular elementsof certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging,or information providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (e.g., the processor803, the memory 807, the circuits 809, and/or the I/O 811) can provide amonitoring function to convert raw data as displayed by an indicator. Amonitoring function as provided by certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be compared to a prescribed limit, such as whether the number ofX-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation contained in the memory 807, the amount of data containedwithin the memory 807, or some other measure relating to the memory isapproaching some value. The limits to the value can, in differentembodiments, be controlled by the user or the manufacturer of certainembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. In certain embodiments,the memory 807 can store such information as data, information,displayable information, readable text, motion X-ray fluorescence depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information, video X-rayfluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/or provided information,and/or audio X-ray fluorescence depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information, etc.

In certain embodiments, the I/O 811 provides an interface to control thetransmissions of digital information between each of the components incertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. The I/O 811 alsoprovides an interface between the components of certain embodiments ofthe X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. The circuits 809 can include such other userinterface devices as a display and/or a keyboard. In other embodiments,the X-ray fluorescence visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be constructed as a specific-purposecomputer such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), amicroprocessor, a microcomputer, or other similar devices.

4. Certain Embodiments of the X-Ray Fluorescence Visualizer, Imager, orInformation Provider with Relevant Flowcharts

Within the disclosure, flow charts of the type described in thisdisclosure apply to method steps as performed by a computer orcontroller as could be contained within certain embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, asdescribed in this disclosure. Additionally, the flow charts as describedin this disclosure apply operations or procedures that can be performedentirely and/or largely utilizing mechanical devices, systems,electromechanical devices, computerized devices, or the like, such ascertain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described in this disclosure. The flowcharts can also apply to apparatus devices, such as an antenna or a nodeassociated therewith that can include, e.g., a general-purpose computeror specialized-purpose computer whose structure along with the software,firmware, electromechanical devices, and/or hardware, can perform theprocess or technique described in the flow chart.

An embodiment of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that can act to compensate for a distortion bythe X-ray fluorescence depth visualizer has been described with respectto FIG. 1 or 2, and elsewhere in this disclosure. There can be a varietyof embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that can be used to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information etc. as described in thisdisclosure. There can be variety of embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

FIG. 51 shows certain embodiments of a X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, of information providing technique 4600 such as described withrespect to, but not limited to, the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 of FIG. 1 or 2, and elsewhere inthis disclosure. Certain embodiments of a high-level flowchart of theX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, of information providingtechnique 4600 is described with respect to FIG. 51 and can include, butis not limited to, operation 4602. Certain embodiments of operation 4602can include, but is not limited to, detecting a presence of an at leastone chemical, compound, or biological material contained in an at leastsome matter of an at least a portion of an at least one individual basedat least partially on addition of an at least one chemical identifyingadditive to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theat least one individual based at least partially on a generation of anat least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon within the at least onechemical identifying additive responsive to a single input energy eventin which an at least some input energy is being applied proximal to theat least one chemical, compound, or biological material contained in theat least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least oneindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the X-ray fluorescencevisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can detect a presence ofthe at least one chemical, compound, or biological material such asduring the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding based at least partially on the addition of the at least onechemical identifying additive, as described in this disclosure,particularly in the claims. Certain embodiments of the at least onechemical identifying additive, as described in this disclosure, caninclude but are not limited to, an X-ray fluorescence enhancingadditive, a taggant, or a contrast agent, etc. such as may be used toindicate or accentuate the presence of the at least one chemical,compound, or biological material contained in the at least some matterof the at least the portion of the at least one individual. The order ofthe operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described with respect toFIG. 51 is intended to be illustrative in nature, and not limited inscope.

FIG. 52 shows certain embodiments of a X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, of information providing technique 4800 such as described withrespect to, but not limited to, the X-ray fluorescence visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 of FIG. 1 or 2, and elsewhere inthis disclosure. Certain embodiments of a high-level flowchart of theX-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, of information providingtechnique 4800 is described with respect to FIG. 52 and can include, butis not limited to, operations 4802 and/or 4808. Certain embodiments ofoperation 4802 can include, but is not limited to, inducing at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon within an at least some matter of an atleast a portion of an at least one individual responsive to a singleinput energy event based at least partially on an at least some inputenergy being applied to the at least some matter of the at least theportion of the at least one individual. For example, certain embodimentsof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can act responsive to such signle input events as a substantiallydistinct location of emission of the at least some input energy, asubstantially distinct direction of emission of the at least some inputenergy, and a substantially distinct time of emission of the at leastsome input energy, substantially distinct location of emission of the atleast some input energy, and a substantially distinct direction ofemission of the at least some input energy, etc. as described in thisdisclosure, particularly in the claims. Certain embodiments of operation4808 can include, but is not limited to, X-ray fluorescence visualizing,imaging, or information providing within the at least some matter of theat least the portion of the at least one individual responsive to theinducing at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon. For instance, avariety of embodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging,or information providing can be provided, as described in thisdisclosure. The order of the operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. asdescribed with respect to FIG. 52 is intended to be illustrative innature, and not limited in scope.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, electromechanicalsystem, and/or firmware configurable to effect the herein-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

5. Conclusion

This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of the X-rayfluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Theembodiments of the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or informationprovider as described with respect to this disclosure are intended to beillustrative in nature, and are not limiting its scope.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the artin computer, controller, communications, networking, and other similartechnologies has progressed to the point where there is littledistinction left between hardware, firmware, and/or softwareimplementations of aspects of systems, such as may be utilized in theX-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information provider. The useof hardware, firmware, and/or software can therefore generally represent(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle can vary withthe context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer and/or designerof the X-ray fluorescence visualizer, imager, or information providermay opt for mainly a hardware and/or firmware vehicle. In alternateembodiments, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer and/ordesigner may opt for mainly a software implementation. In yet otherembodiments, the implementer and/or designer may opt for somecombination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there areseveral possible techniques by which the processes and/or devices and/orother technologies described herein may be effected, none of which isinherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is achoice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle can be deployedand the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability)of the implementer, any of which may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,target individual 82 and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware,software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In Certainembodiments, several portions of the subject matter described herein maybe implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors(DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the artwill recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links(e.g., packet links).

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entireties.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general,that the terms used in the disclosure, including the drawings and theappended claims (and especially as used in the bodies of the appendedclaims), are generally intended as “open” terms. For example, the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”; theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; and the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to”;etc. In this disclosure and the appended claims, the terms “a”, “the”,and “at least one” positioned prior to one or more goods, items, and/orservices are intended to apply inclusively to either one or a pluralityof those goods, items, and/or services.

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems thatcould have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein-describedspecific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a fluorescence X-ray receiving portionconfigured to detect a presence of an at least one chemical, compound,or biological material contained in an at least some matter of an atleast a portion of an at least one individual based at least partiallyon addition of an at least one chemical identifying additive to the atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the at least oneindividual and based at least partially on a generation of an at leastone induced X-ray fluorescing photon within the at least one chemicalidentifying additive responsive to a single input energy event in whichan at least some input energy is applied proximal to the at least onechemical, compound, or biological material contained in the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual.2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an X-ray fluorescencevisualizing, imaging, or information providing portion configured toX-ray fluorescence visualize, image, or provide information within theat least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least oneindividual based at least partially on the addition of the at least onechemical identifying additive to the at least some matter of the atleast the portion of the at least one individual to enhance or inducethe generation of the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a high-energy photonand/or particle emitter portion configured to induce the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon at an X-ray fluorescence event withinthe at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least oneindividual by applying the at least some input energy to the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual.4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion relies at least partiallyupon energy from an energy accumulator.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein at least a portion of the high energy photon and/or particleemitter portion includes an X-ray based emissive structure.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of a high energy photonand/or particle emitter portion includes an electron emissive structure.7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion includes an ion emissivestructure.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one operativeportion of the apparatus is translatable, tiltable, rotatable, orotherwise displaceable by a human user.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein an at least an operative portion of the apparatus istranslatable, tiltable, rotatable, or otherwise displaceable by amachine-based user.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an at least anoperative portion of the apparatus is controllable.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the high energy photon and/or particle emitter portionis configured to apply the at least some input energy with acontrollable intensity.
 12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion is configured to apply theat least some input energy with a controllable timing.
 13. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion is configured to apply the at least some input energy with acontrollable energy.
 14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion is configured to apply theat least some input energy at a controllable location.
 15. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein the high energy photon and/or particle emitterportion is configured to apply the at least some input energy with acontrollable direction.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefluorescence X-ray receiving portion includes an at least one energylevel detector.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluorescenceX-ray receiving portion includes an at least one photodetector.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluorescence X-ray receiving portionincludes an at least one X-ray spectrometer.
 19. The apparatus of claim3, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is configured to identifya time of emission of the at least some input energy from the highenergy photon and/or particle emitter portion.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is configured toidentify a direction of emission of the at least some input energy fromthe high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus isconfigured to identify a velocity of emission of the at least some inputenergy from the high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion. 22.The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus isconfigured to identify an energy of the at least some input energy fromthe high energy photon and/or particle emitter portion.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus isconfigured to identify a time of reception of the at least one inducedX-ray fluorescing photon by the X-ray fluorescence receiving portion.24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of theapparatus is configured to identify a direction of the at least oneinduced X-ray fluorescing photon received by the fluorescence X-rayreceiving portion.
 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least aportion of the apparatus is configured to identify an energy of the atleast one induced X-ray fluorescing photon received by the fluorescenceX-ray receiving portion.
 26. An apparatus, comprising: an X-rayfluorescence receiving portion configured to detect a presence of atleast one chemical identifying additive within an at least some matterof an at least a portion of an at least one individual based at leastpartially on a generation of an at least one induced X-ray fluorescingphoton within the at least one chemical identifying additive within theat least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least oneindividual responsive to a single input energy event in which an atleast some input energy is applied proximal to the at least one chemicalidentifying additive within the at least some matter of the at least theportion of the at least one individual.
 27. The apparatus of claim 26,further comprising an X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing portion configured to X-ray fluorescencevisualize, image, or provide information within the at least some matterof the at least the portion of the at least one individual at leastpartially responsive to the X-ray fluorescence receiving portionconfigured to detect the presence of the at least one chemicalidentifying additive.